I travel to Italy a lot for work, and have been to a Seria B game it was top of the table clash (Brescia v Pisa), and F**k me was it an eye opener. it was like going back in time to the eighties.
The stadium was a crumbling relic. Both sets of fans were heavily segregated. They had soft netting in front, to the sides and above their heads, in their particular area. this was to stop any missiles being thrown out or in.
They even had to segregate to sets of Ultras who both supported Brescia!!!! Bloody madness.
My friend who took me went down later that season to the away fixture. The stadium in Pisa was a similar crumbling relic His coach was attacked several times and there were pitch battles in the street between rival ultras of both teams, the same team and also the police. he sent me loads of photos. his coach was quite badly damaged.
Did we here about this from UEFA?? Of course not. was it on television?? Of course not! would it have been in the media and reported throughout Europe if it had happened here?? Of course it would.
Italian football clubs have big problems with some of the fans, and the clubs and authorities will not deal with it.
Attendances are terrible, as many people are to scared to attend. Families at the game i attended, were not existent!
It's a wonderful country, with a great football tradition, but really needs to get it's house in order. we managed to do it and a majority of supporters in Italy want the same to happen there. unfortunately, a small minority seem to weald a lot of power in the clubs and are ruining football for the masses.
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