POLICEMAN KILLED FOOTBALL CLOSES

Sicilian sides only joined the Italian Championship in 1921-2. The two major clubs to have graced the major leagues are US Citta di Palermo founded in 1900 and Citta di Catania (1908). Another team on the island, Messinese, was also formed in 1900. The two main clubs have only been in the same division on limited occasions. Their first Derby, a Coppa Italia tie, occurred on Christmas Day 1935 when Catania beat Palermo 1-0.

The first league meeting was in November 1936 in Serie B and this resulted in a 1-1 draw. The clubs have met ten times in Serie A with Catania holding the advantage of 5-4 wins and one draw.

Most notorious of their derbies was on the 2nd of February 2007 when a 40 year old policeman, Filippo Raciti, was killed having been involved in calming the inter-fans riots outside the Catania Stadio Massimino. The original match was due to be held on the 4th of February.

A 6pm kick off had been arranged to avoid clashes with religious celebrations in Catania for St Agatha's day and prior to the match there was a minute silence to mark the death of a club official from the lower league Sammartinese Club. He had been beaten to death at a Terza Categoria league match earlier. 

Catania were 5th in the league and Palermo 3rd so it was a prestigious match and passions were high. 

Visiting fans could not get into the stadium until the second half owing to "administration errors" and this didn't go down very well. When they arrived their team was already 0-1 down to a "controversial goal".

Smoke bombs and flames were thrown by the hyped up fans and this drifted onto the field affecting the players, so the referee suspended play for 40 minutes. The fans were even more incensed and fighting began. Tear gas canisters were fired by the police at the "Ultras" and one thing led to another with clashes between the visiting supporters and the police. 

Play restarted and as the game wore on Catania drew level and Palermo snatched a late winner in the 83rd minute again through a controversial goal. 

The FIGC (Italian Football Federation) suspended league fixtures for the following weekend and cancelled the national team's international match with Romania. Catania's ground was closed and various readjustments were made to the facilities as well as major readjustments to the national game.

It was reopened for the new season on September 2nd for a league game against Genoa. Raciti's widow attended the game and a minute's silence was held. 

Catania wake up- show your indignation!