Calcio to return soon

Matches could begin again as soon as Sunday
New regulations to be put into effect

After the emergency joint meeting held by the FIGC, CONI, and members of the Italian government, it has been decided that calcio will resume play soon. If not this coming weekend, play should resume the following weekend. [update: A final decision on when play will resume will be announced Wednesday.] However, stadiums around the country will be subject to stringent new security measures, and those that do not comply will be required to play home matches without fans. There will also be a new ban on selling blocks of tickets to visiting fans, to prevent organized ultras groups from attending away matches, but visiting spectators will not be banned completely.

Of greatest concern is the number of matches that will be played behind closed doors, and the disadvantage that will lend to the squads whose stadiums do not pass muster. According to Kataweb, only six of the country's stadiums meet the proposed safety guidlines:

• Roma's Stadio Olimpico (Lazio, Roma)
• Torino's Stadio Olimpico (Torino, Juve)
• Genoa's Stadio Luigi Ferraris (Samp, Genoa)
• Palermo's Stadio Renzo Barbera (Palermo)
• Siena's Stadio Artemio Franchi (Siena)
• Messina's Stadio San Filippo (Messina)

The San Siro of Milan surprisingly does not meet the requirements even though it is a UEFA 5-star rated stadium. It, as well as the Stadio Tardini in Parma, are very close to meeting the requirements fully and should be ready for play soon. Among those criteria that are required in the proposed rules are:

• required electronic ticketing
• video surveillance in stadiums that seat 10,000+
• entries with turnstiles
• stewards provided by the club
• prescreening area
• retractable barriers

Given the fact that only 9 out of 42 clubs in Serie A and B play their home matches in qualifying stadiums, they may well wish to put off the start of play at least for another week to try to bring their home grounds up to code. Also keep in mind that one of those 9 teams, Palermo, is unlikely to be playing any home matches with fans, regardless of the fitness of their stadium. That exact ruling is still pending in the disciplinary commission of FIGC, but should be released in the next day or so.

CALCIO ON HOLD

POLICEMAN DIES IN CLASH AFTER CATANIA - PALERMO
ALL SERIE A AND SERIE B MATCHES ARE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY

After a tense Sicilian derby which had to be suspended for nearly 30 minutes during the second half due to a dense cloud of smoke over the pitch, supporters continued to set off smoke bombs and other pyrotechnics. A 38-year-old police officer was killed by one such explosion. FIGC has indefinitely put a stop to all play in Italy.

[Update 3 Feb, 5 30 PM EST] Speculation from La Repubblica:

Due turni di stop. Poi campionato a porte chiuse. Questa l'idea più verosimile per dare un seguito alla decisione presa dal commissario della Figc Luca Pancalli subito dopo la tragedia di Catania.

Two matchdays of postponement followed by the remainder of the season behind closed doors for all clubs. La Repubblica thinks this is the most likely course of action that will be taken by FIGC after their emergency meeting on Monday. This is, however, purely speculative, and the truth will not be known until FIGC, CONI, and UEFA make their final announcements.

[Update 2 Feb, 11 PM EST] And from the players' association president, Sergio Campana:

Pancalli mi ha chiamato...ed ero totalmente d'accordo ma vorrei che fosse presa seriamente in considerazione questa mia proposta, il calcio dovrebbe fermarsi un anno per far riflettere su tutti i mali che mostra.

Pancalli called me...and I was in complete agreement but I think that my proposal should be taken in serious consideration, that football should be stopped for one year to reflect upon the evils that it has shown

[2 Feb, 7 30 PM EST] Comments from FIGC commissioner Luca Pancalli:

Ho disposto lo stop di tutte le attività, il calcio in Italia si ferma. Ora basta, veramente basta. È una situazione che non riesco neanche a commentare, perdere la vita a 38 anni è incredibile; questo non è sport.

We have put a stop to all activity, football in Italy is stopped. Now this is enough, really enough. It's a situation that I can't even comment on, to lose one's life at 38 years is incredible; this is not sport.