Italian security chief Roberto Massucci has blamed the Serbian authorities for allowing violent fans to travel to the Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa.
The match between Serbia and Italy was abandoned after just six minutes due to crowd disturbances at the Luigi Ferraris stadium.
Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic was attacked by his own fans before the game and was later taken to hospital, while crowd trouble erupted inside the ground as Serbian fans hurled flares and smashed perspex barriers.
”Fans that are so dangerous should not have arrived in Genoa,” said Massucci. ”They should have been stopped by the Serbian officials. We were aware that this game had a risk factor but a behaviour of such aggressiveness we had not experienced for some time.
”From the traditional channels of communication with the Serbian police, we had not been given any signs of the degree of danger of these fans. We, through experience, had arranged an adequate security, but we would have never imagined such a high level of aggressiveness. But there was no-one here from the Serbian police.”
Prior to the game, Italian police clashed with Serbian fans near the hotel where their team was staying.
”It’s a difficult time for everyone,” said Italian Football Federation general director Antonello Valentini. ”We apologise to our fans. The police and us, as a federation, did what we could do in order for the game to be played.
”The referee took the decision to abandon the game after the second flare was thrown onto the pitch and told us he could not guarantee the safety of the players.”
