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Some selected thoughts on football (soccer) as inspired by Radio Netherlands report:
Italian youth detained in connection with football riots
Italian police are questioning a 17 year-old youth in connection with the death of a police officer during football riots in the town of Catania on Sicily last week. The teenager and two friends were detained after police studied video recordings made by security cameras in the Catania stadium. All football matches were cancelled last weekend due to the violence. The competition has been resumed, but spectators are only allowed in the four stadiums that meet government security requirements.
Just a snippet of a longer report about the ongoing crisis in Italian football. It has me wondering if there is anything that can save Serie A from shaking its horrendous reputation, that continues to disappoint and shock.
Maybe Europeans don't find this as surprising considering a long history of hooliganism in Sport there, which is not to say things have not changed considerably in the last decade especially in the UK, Germany, and Holland. But from an American perspective, its sort of hard to imagine rioting over and sporting event, save for the few isolated cases (such as LA Lakers fans turning over cars after winning the championship, and last seasons brawl that went into the stands in Detroit.)
What are the chances things can be cleaned up in Serie A, and how long before the league closes down completely? After all, Italy are World Champions...
Also, I could not be more pleased with the US national side once again defeating Mexico on American soil, making it 8 straight, and out scoring them 13-0 in those games. Granted it is just a friendly, but these games against Mexico are not pointless, it means a lot for this region. Excellent turn out for the game too, albeit a pro-Mexico crowd.
The latest slew of friendlies have been entertaining. Did you catch Portugal - Brazil, or Greece - South Korea?
Unfortunate loss for England, but what a goal from Iniesta. How long before McClaren is given the boot?
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