Italian fans to be banned from soccer matches involving Italian team

by Yuliya Talmazan | October 13, 2008 at 08:49 am

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Italian soccer team, the 2006 world soccer champions, will have to play without fan support after a string of conduct violations in the world cup qualifier with Bulgaria on Saturday. Surprisingly, it was the head of Italian soccer foundation himself along with team Italia’s captain who asked for such drastic action to be taken against Italian fans. In today’s soccer world, misbehaving fans can be costly for their country’s soccer reputation and success. It is believed Italy lost the bid for European 2012 championships in part over violent and disrespectful behaviour of their fans. Evidently, Italian soccer foundation does not want to take any more chances, and is opting out for fan-less matches to avoid problems in the future.

Italy fans should be stopped from supporting the world champions abroad after minor trouble during their 0-0 draw in Bulgaria, the head of the Italian football association said on Monday.

A group of Italy fans made fascist salutes and threw bottles at Bulgaria supporters before Saturday's World Cup qualifying Group Eight match in Sofia. Three supporters were also arrested for burning a Bulgarian flag.