By David Gold
April 25 – Serie A side Genoa has been ordered to play two matches behind closed doors following bizarre scenes at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium when players gave in to demands from fans to remove their shirts during the 4-1 loss to Siena on Sunday (April 22).
Relegation-threatened Genoa found themselves 3-0 down at half-time before quickly conceding a fourth goal in the second period, at which point up to 100 of the club’s apparent hard-line ‘ultra’ fans broke into the family section of the ground and threw missiles onto the pitch.
Referee Paolo Tagliavento was forced to suspend the game for 45 minutes as fans protested against the home team’s performance – and demanded the players take off their shirts claiming they were not fit to wear them.
With the exception of striker Giuseppe Sculli (pictured below, conversing with club President Enrico Preziosi), the entire team gave in to the demands and removed their tops before handing them to captain Marco Rossi.
The match eventually continued, and although the under-fire players pulled a goal back Genoa was not able to overcome the visitors.
Genoa has now been told by the Lega Calcio, the league’s governing body, to play its next two scheduled home games, against Cagliari on May 2 and Palermo on May 13, behind closed doors will now be played without supporters allowed into the Luigi Ferraris.
Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Giancarlo Abete stormed: “This violence is unacceptable.
“Those are not fans.
“I hope these people are identified and condemned.
“They should not be allowed into the stadium ever again.”
He added: “Sculli did the right thing by not taking his shirt off.”
Genoa club President Enrico Preziosi also apologised for the scenes: “I’m sorry that 60 or 100 people can say and do as they want with impunity without us having the ability to control them and send them home.”
Several Italian teams have experienced a problem with hooliganism with the cultish ultras – consisting of large groups of fans whose size makes them tricky to police – proving a particular problem.
The Luigi Ferraris was also the scene of violence during the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign when a tie between Italy and Serbia had to be abandoned following the actions of visiting fans who threw missiles onto the pitch – raising concerns about how easily supporters at the 36,000-capacity ground can get onto the field of play.
If Genoa thought Sunday’s events were bad matters became worse still the following day when Preziosi told RAI state radio that he was firing team manager Alberto Malesani.
Malesani, who had already been sacked earlier this season before being brought back to replace Pasquale Marino, will be replaced for the final five games of the season by Luigi De Canio, a previous manager of the club in 2004.
Italy has developed a notorious reputation for the rate at which managers are fired; indeed, there has been a record 18 changes in Serie A already this season, beating the previous tally of 15 in 1951-52.
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