The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has called off all this weekend's Serie A and Serie B games after a policeman was killed at a match on Friday.
Officer Filippo Raciti died as violence flared during the Serie A game between Sicilian rivals Catania and Palermo.
FIGC has also cancelled Italy's friendly with Romania on Wednesday and all matches until a solution is found.
Commissioner Luca Pancalli said: "What we're witnessing has nothing to do with soccer, so Italian soccer is stopping."
He added that the decision to stop the games for the duration of the weekend was not enough, and said there would be more meetings on Monday "to identify those drastic measures that will allow us to restart. Otherwise, we're not restarting the games."
The game was already given an early time slot on Friday because of fears over public safety.
The derby game was suspended after an hour when tear gas, used by police to break up the fighting outside the ground, drifted onto the field.
There was fighting outside the ground, reported ANSA news agency, because Palermo fans could not get into Catania's Stadio Massimino until the second half.
The two teams fled the pitch for the dressing-room, with the game suspended for 30 minutes.
Prior to kick-off, a minute's silence had been held following the death of a club official from lower league club Sammartinese at a game last weekend.
Atfer the match, fans continued to fight running battles with police on the streets outside the stadium and around 100 people were being treated for injuries.
The federation said that another police officer was in critical condition, and police said dozens of people with lesser injuries had been taken to local hospitals.
Catania club executive Pietro Lo Monaco reacted to news of the officer's death by announcing he would leave football.
"I've heard that a policeman has died," he said. "To speak of football right now seems useless. For me this is the end. I will leave the football world.
"I don't recognise myself in this world anymore. I have loved football intensely but after this right now it seems absurd."
Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin was quick to blame Catania fans for the violence.
"We won the match, but we cannot enjoy this victory," said Guidolin. "Football cannot last for much longer like this. There will be no joy in it."
The Catania prosecutor's office has announced an investigation into the incident.
Italian prime minister Romano Prodi also issued a statement.
"After the serious incidents that occurred tonight in Catania, my first thought is for the people that have been affected and for their families," he said.
"I feel a duty to say that we need a strong and clear signal to avoid the degeneration of this sport which we are seeing more dramatically and more often."
Palermo had taken the lead through Andrea Caracciolo, but Catania equalised within 60 seconds of the teams coming back out thanks to Fabio Caserta.
Palermo won the game with a controversial David di Michele goal in the 83rd minute.
Officer Filippo Raciti died as violence flared during the Serie A game between Sicilian rivals Catania and Palermo.
FIGC has also cancelled Italy's friendly with Romania on Wednesday and all matches until a solution is found.
Commissioner Luca Pancalli said: "What we're witnessing has nothing to do with soccer, so Italian soccer is stopping."
He added that the decision to stop the games for the duration of the weekend was not enough, and said there would be more meetings on Monday "to identify those drastic measures that will allow us to restart. Otherwise, we're not restarting the games."
The game was already given an early time slot on Friday because of fears over public safety.
The derby game was suspended after an hour when tear gas, used by police to break up the fighting outside the ground, drifted onto the field.
There was fighting outside the ground, reported ANSA news agency, because Palermo fans could not get into Catania's Stadio Massimino until the second half.
The two teams fled the pitch for the dressing-room, with the game suspended for 30 minutes.
Prior to kick-off, a minute's silence had been held following the death of a club official from lower league club Sammartinese at a game last weekend.
Atfer the match, fans continued to fight running battles with police on the streets outside the stadium and around 100 people were being treated for injuries.
The federation said that another police officer was in critical condition, and police said dozens of people with lesser injuries had been taken to local hospitals.
Catania club executive Pietro Lo Monaco reacted to news of the officer's death by announcing he would leave football.
"I've heard that a policeman has died," he said. "To speak of football right now seems useless. For me this is the end. I will leave the football world.
"I don't recognise myself in this world anymore. I have loved football intensely but after this right now it seems absurd."
Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin was quick to blame Catania fans for the violence.
"We won the match, but we cannot enjoy this victory," said Guidolin. "Football cannot last for much longer like this. There will be no joy in it."
The Catania prosecutor's office has announced an investigation into the incident.
Italian prime minister Romano Prodi also issued a statement.
"After the serious incidents that occurred tonight in Catania, my first thought is for the people that have been affected and for their families," he said.
"I feel a duty to say that we need a strong and clear signal to avoid the degeneration of this sport which we are seeing more dramatically and more often."
Palermo had taken the lead through Andrea Caracciolo, but Catania equalised within 60 seconds of the teams coming back out thanks to Fabio Caserta.
Palermo won the game with a controversial David di Michele goal in the 83rd minute.
Players urge year-long suspension Friday 2 February, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Players’ Association has urged the suspension of Italian football Leagues for a whole year after the latest tragic incidents.
“Football should stop for a year to reflect on all the evil that comes from it. The culture that surrounds our sport is wrong and has to be revolutionised. We need patience for that to happen and maybe passing on to another generation,” said AIC President Sergio Campana.
The FIGC called a halt to all Serie A, B, C and Youth Championship games this weekend after the riots that marred the Sicilian derby.
A 38-year-old policeman was killed in the battles with Catania supporters following Palermo’s 2-1 victory at the Stadio Massimino.
At the moment it is unclear when the fixture list will resume, but the Players Association is urging for a definitive stance.
“I think that faced with these events, football should stop for a year and see if we can change our whole approach to sport,” continued Campana.
“We have for some time been pointing out that there are weekly attacks on players because they lose a game. This means the very culture of sport in this country is wrong. Right when football is trying to rediscover its credibility after Calciopoli, this sort of thing leaves us dumbfounded.”
The last time Serie A ground to a halt over fan violence was on February 5, 1995, when Genoa supporter Vincenzo Spagnolo was stabbed to death ahead of a match against Milan.
“The death of a policeman in Catania and the many injuries as a result of this riot is a disturbing turn of events that calls for drastic measures,” said Minister for Sport Giovanna Melandri.
“The Government will no longer tolerate the need for thousands of police officers in every match to ensure the safety of its citizens. Along with the Home Office Minister Giuliano Amato, we consider the suspension of the next round of games to be an opportune decision by the FIGC.
“The Government and the world of sport must come together now to make sure the Leagues begin again in a totally different way.”
The Sicilian derby was the final straw in a situation that has been growing in the peninsula.
In March 2004 the Rome derby was abandoned at half-time after reports – which later proved to be false – suggested a child had been run over and killed by a police van outside the Stadio Olimpico. This claim prompted extreme tension and riots.
The most tragic incident was only last week, when Sammartinese director Ermanno Licursi died from a brain haemorrhage when a fight broke out between opposition players in the Calabrian amateur League. It emerged he had been kicked in the head.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Players’ Association has urged the suspension of Italian football Leagues for a whole year after the latest tragic incidents.
“Football should stop for a year to reflect on all the evil that comes from it. The culture that surrounds our sport is wrong and has to be revolutionised. We need patience for that to happen and maybe passing on to another generation,” said AIC President Sergio Campana.
The FIGC called a halt to all Serie A, B, C and Youth Championship games this weekend after the riots that marred the Sicilian derby.
A 38-year-old policeman was killed in the battles with Catania supporters following Palermo’s 2-1 victory at the Stadio Massimino.
At the moment it is unclear when the fixture list will resume, but the Players Association is urging for a definitive stance.
“I think that faced with these events, football should stop for a year and see if we can change our whole approach to sport,” continued Campana.
“We have for some time been pointing out that there are weekly attacks on players because they lose a game. This means the very culture of sport in this country is wrong. Right when football is trying to rediscover its credibility after Calciopoli, this sort of thing leaves us dumbfounded.”
The last time Serie A ground to a halt over fan violence was on February 5, 1995, when Genoa supporter Vincenzo Spagnolo was stabbed to death ahead of a match against Milan.
“The death of a policeman in Catania and the many injuries as a result of this riot is a disturbing turn of events that calls for drastic measures,” said Minister for Sport Giovanna Melandri.
“The Government will no longer tolerate the need for thousands of police officers in every match to ensure the safety of its citizens. Along with the Home Office Minister Giuliano Amato, we consider the suspension of the next round of games to be an opportune decision by the FIGC.
“The Government and the world of sport must come together now to make sure the Leagues begin again in a totally different way.”
The Sicilian derby was the final straw in a situation that has been growing in the peninsula.
In March 2004 the Rome derby was abandoned at half-time after reports – which later proved to be false – suggested a child had been run over and killed by a police van outside the Stadio Olimpico. This claim prompted extreme tension and riots.
The most tragic incident was only last week, when Sammartinese director Ermanno Licursi died from a brain haemorrhage when a fight broke out between opposition players in the Calabrian amateur League. It emerged he had been kicked in the head.
