Violence in Italy & Euro 2008
November 14, 2007 12:00 PM
Soccer and violence always seems to find itself entwined at times, and the ugly side of the beautiful game was at the forefront again in Italy over the weekend. Games in Serie A were disrupted on Sunday after there were violent reactions to the news that Lazio supporter Gabriele Sandri was killed by a police officer’s stray bullet following clashes with Juventus fans at a service station near the Tuscan town of Arezzo. The incident brought postponements and threw Italian soccer into chaos once again. It was only last season that a police officer was killed following clashes between fans from Sicilian rivals Palermo and Catania.
The ‘Ultras’ culture in continental Europe has become the latest cancer to the game of soccer. For years, it was the notorious reputation of English fans that brought fear to those who encountered them. Now, places like Italy and Eastern Europe have increasingly become the most hostile of soccer environments to view a game. In my previous job, I remember a trip to Portugal ahead of EURO 2004 when I met a local individual that wore a ‘hooligan’ t-shirt. He made it seem like it was fashionable to cause mayhem in the name of your favourite soccer club, but I found it disturbing that such culture and mentality has now spread to other major soccer nations. These days, England is probably the safest place to watch a game, with the amount of stewards and police that are constantly seen on duty around British soccer stadiums. These security measures are sorely lacking in a place like Italy, and it may take some time for them to come up to standard. With Italy facing an important EURO 2008 qualifying game in Scotland on Saturday, these recent events will be considered an unwanted distraction for the Azzurri squad.
Speaking of EURO 2008, this coming weekend sees the qualifying campaign hit the home stretch, as nations look to earn their place in next summer’s finals in Austria and Switzerland. Though little has been determined as yet, some big soccer nations are facing the humiliation of missing the finals in the New Year. England have probably drawn the most attention for their precarious situation, as they need Israel to do them a favour on Saturday and deny Russia victory in Tel Aviv. Should the Russians win, then Guus Hiddink’s side are likely to beat minnows Andorra on the following Wednesday. Though many will feel something is missing without England at EURO 2008, I feel that their impending failure to qualify might be a necessary painful lesson for a soccer nation that needs to have a serious change of attitude as to how it sees the world of soccer.
The only British nation that has a realistic chance of making the finals is Scotland. The Tartan Army have surprised many by claiming victories over World Cup finalists France in qualifying, and being very difficult to play at home. Glasgow’s Hampden Park is sure to be roaring when Italy visit on Saturday. Alex McLeish’s side need a win to assure qualification and threaten the hopes of either the World Cup holders or France in Group B.
Looking at the entire qualification picture, I would like to see Finland come through from Group A, despite the challenge posed by Poland, Portugal, and Serbia to the hopes of Roy Hodgson’s side. Norway’s game with Turkey in Oslo should go a long way towards who joins defending European champions Greece in qualifying from Group C. Czech Republic and Germany are already through from Group D, while Croatia are in driver’s seat to win Group E. Spain host Sweden in what might be a Group F decider on Saturday, while Romania and Holland look on course to qualify from Group G.
I’m thinking Saturday might make for an interesting day. Will the Scots be celebrating qualification? Can Israel do England a massive favour and claim a result against Russia? Will one of the two teams in last summer’s World Cup final fail to qualify? Which two sides will come out on top in the four-horse race in Group A? The intrigue is sure to mount, as the weekend nears…
Posted By: Simon Fudge on November 14, 2007 12:00 PM
