Rome Rioting, Police Plead Not Guilty Against Murder
The situation is fluid in Italy, and particularly in Rome, in the face of Lazio fan Gabriele Sandri being killed by the police.
Sandri Shot
Sardini was shot in the back of the neck by a police officer - who was 'supposed' to be firing in the air to disperse a mob in Arezzo - and football fans have since been raging against the law enforcers.
The city of Rome is experiencing the worst of the crisis, with Lazio and Roma fans both coming together and expressing their disgust with the police.
There is an air of revenge around, one threatening to explode into more serious trouble, and the cornered police officials have released a statement in a bid to arrest the problem.
Official Statement
Said the statement from authorities in Arezzo, where the incident took place when Juve and Lazio fans were tussling:
“At 09.10am two traffic police cars from the Battifolle district were alerted by the sound of shouting and noises coming from the north car park of the motorway service station.
“Realising there was a violent brawl between the occupants of at least three vehicles, the agents intervened by activating their siren and closing in on the scene.
“One of the agents, in a bid to induce the brawlers to desist, fired two shots."
The second of these was fired in the general direction of the mob, and not in the air, and found Sardini, seated in a car and not involved.
Continued the statement:
"These were fired so that the fight that had broken out between a group of people – who had not been identified as football fans – did not degenerate into something more serious.
“Soon afterwards, one of the cars with five people on board continued its journey to the Arezzo toll booth where they asked for help from the emergency services.
"Medics who arrived at the scene tried to revive the man, but there was nothing they could do.â€
Murder Accusations
Sardini's lawyer and his brother, nonetheless, have launched allegations of "murder" against the officer who fired. They insist Sandri was not even in the crowd, but in the car with them when he was shot, making it look really bad for the officials.
Some very strong statements have been made already. "He was only 28 and he was murdered," Sardini's brother shouted at the press.
The matter has already reached the govenment.
Like A Civil War
The Inter Milan - Lazio clash was called off immediately yesterday, and Atalanta - Milan had to be cancelled after seven minutes as fans rioted inside the stadium in Bergamo, in protest against the game not being called off.
The Roma - Cagliari game was also postponed as conditions deteriorated in the vicinity of the Stadio Olimpico.
Meanwhile, Rome continues to burn, literally. Police cars and vans have been set alight, some property destroyed, and tear gas had to be shelled out outside the Olimpico last night.
The situation is being described by many as close to a civil war.
Rome Rioting, Police Plead Not Guilty Against Murder
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FerrariTifosi27
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Re: Seria A
how bout you have no idea.ozzie owl wrote:Might find soon all matches behind closed doors.
How about the Italians re-open the Collaseum and let the Ultra's fight in there.
the incident happened on a highway. there are now riots non stop in Rome. watch Italian news and you will see that police cars are being torched, CONI HQ was attacked but apart from what Atalanta's ultras did to get the match postponed there has been no rioting in stadiums.
the issue is which the way the police do their job. shoot first and ask questions later and it has cost a life. its not a football problem, its a problem in the society and not just the ultras.
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Translator
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Re: Spot On
:?ozzie owl wrote:Your are spot on there.Romerpoolaide wrote:Italia needs to implement Britains plan of how they dealt domestically with football violence.
ummmm what about the 20 police officers injured by "fans" after the Birmingham - Villa clash on the weekend
I suppose the cops were all lined up and fell over each other
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 090193.stm
Last edited by Translator on Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
I don't like lies. I have understood your market where sometimes lies sell more than truth. This is your life and I don't like it. I understand your work and I have to work with you, but the protection of my group is much more important than you
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Translator
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Was thinking the same thing but difference here is we have more respect for our authorities than over in Italy, and are willing to give our Government the benefit of the doubt. We can also voice our objections through civil liberation groups that seem to be taking over the countrypires7 wrote:
sounds like victorian police!
But how does burning and looting throughout rome solve the problem? This is anarchy, what ever happened to the peaceful protest!
Italian police are low paid workers, typically of lower educate and tend to take up the job as a last option. When you add the level of distrust of Government and fear of corruption it doesn't take much for the Italians (who love a conspiracy) to take the cause of freedom fighters (in their own heads) and stand up for what they believe in. Add in media drip feeding facts and stirring up emotions and the Italian temperamental nature and you've got a pretty hot cauldron of emotions.
Of course a lot of stereotyping in the above statement but culturally Australia and Italy are miles apart. You only need to go back to the 70's and the political killings to see that. Image an Australian getting fire up enough to attack a pollie? It just doesn't happen here they'd rather take the piss over a beer with Johnny.
I don't like lies. I have understood your market where sometimes lies sell more than truth. This is your life and I don't like it. I understand your work and I have to work with you, but the protection of my group is much more important than you
Re: Spot On
Nevertheless I think domestically, Britain has achieved control (after the crackdown) despite a few recent incidents.97 wrote::?ozzie owl wrote:Your are spot on there.Romerpoolaide wrote:Italia needs to implement Britains plan of how they dealt domestically with football violence.
ummmm what about the 20 police officers injured by "fans" after the Birmingham - Villa clash on the weekend
I suppose the cops were all lined up and fell over each other
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 090193.stm
On the world game, Tony Palumbo interviews an Italian authour and journalist Beppe Severgnini about Serie A. Beppe gives us an insight into his thoughts on where the game in Italy (from a security and entertainment factor) needs to go. I found myself agreeing with his comments.
Just go the world game website and and load up the video section to watch it.
Every team needs the Powerhouse.
Refer to my other post in the other thread why I think the English situation is not the same. The mentality of the English Hooligans and Italian Ultras is completeley different. The Ultras view themselves as true fans and defenders of the game's true spirit. They won't go down without a fight, it's their way of life. You'd do more by embracing them and trying to work with them then trying to kill them off. Plus you'd lose so much of the passion of the Ultra style of support if you got rid of them completely.
For example, in England they ban and jail certain individuals yet people will still go, firms will still turn up without them. The Ultras are different, they'll boycott, they'll riot, they'll protest.
For example, in England they ban and jail certain individuals yet people will still go, firms will still turn up without them. The Ultras are different, they'll boycott, they'll riot, they'll protest.
The latest rumours to come out of it all are that it was no fight, but a verbal altercation. Yet the cops still fired shots.Huntelaar wrote:the 2 guys should have never got into a fight
thats just barbarianism - you cant expect to get into a fight on a public street and have the feeling that you or your mates wont possibly get killed
if they never got into a fight, noone would have accidentally died
Re: Spot On
You are surely joking aren't you. The police cause more problems than they solve over there. They are too heavy handed, the football supporter and the motorist is just an easy target.ozzie owl wrote:Your are spot on there.Romerpoolaide wrote:Italia needs to implement Britains plan of how they dealt domestically with football violence.
Go to a football match as an away supporter and you get treated like a piece of dirt that they want wiped off their boots.
go to a game and see how many old bill are not wearing there id numbers (as they legally have to), basically so when they whack someone, no-one can tell who they are. I know this from first hand experience. I've seen more violence at football from the police than I have from any football fan.