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Italy ban their own fans from away games

13/10/2008

The Italian Football Association have put a self-imposed ban on their own supporters travelling to any away games following crowd disturbances during Saturday's goalless draw with Bulgaria in Sofia.

The World Cup Group 8 qualifier was marred by visiting fans throwing bottles and making fascist salutes and chants, and three Italian fans were detained by police after burning a Bulgarian flag.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has now decided they will not take up their allocation of tickets for away fixtures until further notice.

"Until we have certainties and we are able to verify certain things, we will not ask for any tickets for Italy's away games," said FIGC president Giancarlo Abete.

"I feel great bitterness and pain for what has happened.

"Everyone knows the process to isolate these individuals is long but this is a dark episode.

"I believe with all the technological means available we can now identify those individuals.

"I don't believe they are fans but individuals who are prone to delinquent behaviour with the intention of damaging the image of our nation.

"But we have all of their names and we will punish them."
Italy currently have seven points from their opening three group games and they host Montenegro in Lecce on Wednesday, in a game which will now have extra security.

Their next away game is in Montenegro in March, and they will play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin in October next year.