Catania president Antonino Pulvirenti has announced his
intention to retire from football following the tragic events of
Friday evening in Italy.
Police officer Filippo Raciti was killed as violence erupted in the
Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo, with rioting fans also
injuring around 70 other people in scenes that disgraced Serie
A.
The Italian Football Federation immediately suspended all domestic
matches for an indefinite period of time and also postponed Italy's
friendly tie with Romania next week.
Whilst the Italian authorities take stock of Friday's developments,
Catania supremo Pulvirenti has stated he will relinquish his
position following the death of Raciti.
"I don't feel that I can continue after what happened," said
Pulvirenti.
"I had hoped that certain episodes that already happened during the
season, that cost us the ground ban, would have taught
something.
"Instead this hasn't happened."
Following the scenes at Catania's Stadio Massimino, the club's
sporting director Petro Lo Monaco has also stated he will step
down.
"It is impossible to continue in this way. Until today I believed
in this world, which has been all my life, but now everything must
stop," said Lo Monaco.
"I don't want to continue in a similar world."
Whilst Italy mourns the loss of Raciti, Catania have suspended the
service of their official website, instead posting a message
stating that the club's thoughts are with the officer's
family.
"You have to excuse us, but it seems really absurd writing about
football at this time," read the statement.
"Our thoughts are exclusively directed to the family of the police
inspector who lost his life to guarantee public order during a
match."
