Italy branded outcasts of Europe again as violence and death haunts nation

Gabriele Sandri, a 26-year-old man, was killed by a police officer following a clash between rival factions from the Rome club and Juventus at a motorway service station near Arezzo.

Lazio's Serie A match with Inter Milan was immediately suspended, but news of the tragedy led to outbreaks of violence at other stadia and the game between Atalanta and AC Milan in Bergamo was abandoned.

Later, up to 200 fans armed with rocks and clubs attacked a police barracks near to the Olympic Stadium shared by Lazio and Roma.

Reports in Italy said that Sandri had been among Lazio fans travelling to Milan when they were met by a group of Juventus followers who had travelled to an away match against Parma.

He may have been hit by a warning shot after officers attempted to halt a confrontation between rival fans.

The death of Sandri comes less than 12 months after police officer Filippo Raciti was killed as he attempted to quell violence surrounding the Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo. That horrific incident led to widespread outrage, the suspension of Serie A fixtures and action at government level.

Now, though, Italy once more finds itself cast as the sick man of European football, just as attention should have been focused on the Azzurri's trip to Hampden on Saturday.

The killing is certain to cast the darkest cloud over the Italian national training centre at Coverciano, near Florence, where the Azzurri squad was named last night, with the players due to gather today.

Local authorities in Arezzo admitted there had been a 'tragic error' in the police's handling of the violence.

"Our agent had intervened to prevent the brawl between these two groups - who had not been identified as fans - degenerating into a situation with serious consequences for both groups," said Vincenzo Giacobbe, head of police.

"I express my most profound pain and sincere condolences to the victim's family."

Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, expressed his shock over what had happened. "These are episodes that increase concern," he said.

The decision not to call off all of yesterday's matches angered some in Italy - they were instead delayed for 10 minutes - but the Italian FA (FIGC) insisted they made the right call.

"The FIGC entirely assumes responsibility for the decision to postpone the game between Internazionale and Lazio," said Giancarlo Abete, the FA president. "I would be intellectually dishonest if I said that we had not considered postponing all of today's games but, in the end, we believe that we have taken the right decision."

Roma's request to call off their game with Cagliari was eventually approved, with Lazio's city rivals determined not to rub salt into the wounds of their co-tenants at the Olympic Stadium.

The club's managing director, Rosella Sensi, said: "It is right to ask for the game to be postponed as a sign of solidarity for the Lazio fans and for the city of Roma."

There were later riots outside the Stadio Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo, with both Milan and Atalanta fans attacking the authorities. This is the saddest thing," added Abete.

"A tragic and entirely accidental event should not create further violence against the police. It was an accident that unfortunately caused the loss of a life.

"Everyone must recognise this has little to do with the football world and was a tragic accident that could have happened in any other situation."