Italian soccer clubs are scrambling to comply with security standards so that fans will not be locked out of their venues under the crackdown imposed in the wake of last week's fatal riot in Sicily.

A policeman was killed and 100 people injured when fans went on the rampage after last Friday's derby between Catania and Palermo.

The violence prompted the Italian government to introduce strict new measures to curb hooliganism and clubs whose security does not meet legal requirements are being forced to play their games behind closed doors.

Professional soccer was suspended after last Friday's violence, but resumes this weekend.

The grounds of 11 clubs in the top two divisions, including San Siro stadium, home to AC and Inter Milan, have been deemed unsafe and will not be permitted spectators.

However, AC Milan have employed 100 people who have been working around the clock to improve their security in the hope that they will be able to let fans in for Sunday's home match against Livorno.

The club have installed 28 additional turnstiles to meet one of the safety criteria laid down by the government in the hope they can reach a compromise and be allowed to open their doors to season-ticket holders.

The San Siro, which has a capacity of 78,000, requires 160 turnstiles.

"We are doing everything we can to keep our season-ticket holders happy," AC Milan president Adriano Galliani said.

"We hope the 28 turnstiles can guarantee the entrance of 40,000 fans. Football without fans is not natural."

An independent security watchdog specializing in stadium security will inspect the stadium before reporting back to the government, who must then decide whether to give AC Milan the green light.

On Friday, AC Milan owner and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi slammed the government's ban on fans.

"I believe it is an infringement of liberty not to allow season ticket holders to watch their team because of the painful events that happened in Catania," he said.

"It wouldn't have imposed such restrictions when I was Prime Minister."

Other clubs who have started improving security at their grounds are Messina, Fiorentina, Empoli and Reggina.

Messina had hoped to stage their match against Catania after constructing a police viewpoint that was required of them, but given the match is another Sicilian derby local authorities insisted on closed doors.

Fans of Inter Milan are threatening to defy the ban on supporters and travel to their match against Chievo, but only to make a peaceful protest.

A message posted on an Inter fans' website said: "With our presence in Verona, we want to show our contempt for the new legislation on banning fans, not to cause problems for the police."

(China Daily via AFP February 12, 2007)