The Archive

The Italian authorities have reacted hard to recent embarrassments, but are also groping their way towards a more positive ‘English solution’, writes Paul Virgo

The shower of flares that halted Internazionale’s Champions League derby with AC Milan triggered some tough talking from the Italian authorities. Police have been instructed to call off matches at the first sign of trouble, inside or outside the stadium. Likewise, the Italian federation (FIGC) has given referees instructions to suspend matches if fans hurl flares or other missiles. Turnstile checks have been beefed up to make it more difficult to smuggle flares or offensive banners into the grounds. Teams whose fans are responsible for trouble causing a match to be abandoned will automatically lose the game 3‑0. If the trouble involves both sets of fans, both teams lose 3‑0.

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Believe it or not, but the Italians are going for an English job when it comes to stadium security, writes Matt Barker

For most of this year the Italian press, spearheaded by a campaign in La Gazzetta dello Sport, have been calling for the introduction of a stewarding system all’inglese and the removal of perimeter fencing in the nation’s stadiums.

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Two years ago Luton teetered between farce and oblivion, with a new manager ‘elected’ by a dubious poll. Now, as Neil Rose reports, Mike Newell’s side are firmly on the up

You could tell it was a special day. Luton fans could not really bring themselves to hate the Milton Keynes Dons – and they have more reason than most.

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Thanks to the bitter legacy of English rule it has always been impossible to play association football in Ireland’s finest stadium, Croke Park – until now, as Robbie Meredith reports

Describing football grounds as shrines or cathedrals is fairly commonplace; a lazy marketing trick exploiting a supporter’s passion for their team. One stadium in Dublin, however, explodes the cliche.

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Coventry filled their old ground for a fantastic finale, but often struggled to do so and Neville Hadsley wonders why they have to move to a venue fit for Kylie and U2

It hasn’t been a good 12 months for Coventry City chairman Mike McGinnity and his board. First he sacked a popular manager, Eric Black, then compounded the error with City’s worst appointment in living memory – Peter Reid – who, instead of achieving the “instant success” McGinnity declared he wanted, pitched the club into a relegation battle.

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