Video

Italian newspapers on Saturday (February 3) welcomed the suspension of soccer matches after a policeman was killed during clashes at a derby game between Sicilian clubs Catania and Palermo on Friday (February 2). 'Soccer shuts down', and 'Enough!' were the headlines of two of the main sport Italian newspapers. The 38-year-old police officer died shortly after a rioter tossed an explosive into his car, outside the Serie A match in Catania, police said. The death was the second in little over a week connected to an Italian soccer game. "They should not play any more, they earn millions and then there is always someone who dies. They really should not play anymore, they can't with such violence." said Rome resident Wanda. The latest bloodshed stunned a nation that just last summer triumphantly celebrated their World Cup victory in Germany, and the government called a high-level crisis meeting for Monday (February 5) to hammer out emergency measures to halt the violence. "I have kids and I would like to take them to see the games but it is impossible. You go to see soccer and you may not come home," said another Rome resident, Stefano Donadei. The Italian soccer federation (FIGC) quickly declared that all the weekend's matches were suspended, then clarified that the suspension was indefinite and that it also applied to the national team. Italy had been scheduled to welcome Romania for a friendly match on Wednesday (February 7). The world champions are due to host Scotland...