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Italian league halted by violence
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has called off all this weekend's Serie A and Serie B games after a policeman was killed at a match on Friday.
A 38-year-old officer died as violence flared during and after the Serie A game between Sicilian rivals Catania and Palermo, which Palermo won 2-1.
The game was being played on Friday because of fears over public safety.
FIGC has cancelled Italy's game with Romania on Wednesday and an Under-21 match against Bulgaria on Tuesday too.
The derby game was suspended after an hour when tear gas, used by police to break up the fighting outside the ground, drifted onto the field.
There was fighting outside the ground, reported ANSA news agency, because Palermo fans could not get into Catania's Stadio Massimino until the second half.
The two teams fled the pitch for the dressing-room, with the game suspended for 30 minutes.
Prior to kick-off, a minute's silence had been held following the death of a club official from lower league club Sammartinese at a game last weekend.
Atfer the match, fans continued to fight running battles with police on the streets outside the stadium and around 100 people were being treated for injuries.
Catania club executive Pietro Lo Monaco reacted to news of the officer's death by announcing he would leave football.
"I've heard that a policeman has died," he said. "To speak of football right now seems useless. For me this is the end. I will leave the football world.
"I don't recognise myself in this world anymore. I have loved football intensely but after this right now it seems absurd."
Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin was quick to blame Catania fans for the violence.
"We won the match, but we cannot enjoy this victory," said Guidolin. "Football cannot last for much longer like this. There will be no joy in it."
The Catania prosecutor's office has announced an investigation into the incident.
Italian prime minister Romano Prodi also issued a statement.
"After the serious incidents that occurred tonight in Catania, my first thought is for the people that have been affected and for their families," he said.
"I feel a duty to say that we need a strong and clear signal to avoid the degeneration of this sport which we are seeing more dramatically and more often."
Palermo had taken the lead through Andrea Caracciolo, but Catania equalised within 60 seconds of the teams coming back out thanks to Fabio Caserta.
Palermo won the game with a controversial David di Michele goal in the 83rd minute.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6326513.stm