Napoli fans banned for the season

The Italian domestic season kicked off last weekend and threw up some interesting results.

Sampdoria outplayed Inter Milan and grabbed a draw. Bologna beat AC Milan. It was a fascinating weekend.

Sadly, the football was marred by ultras - or, to describe them more accurately in this case, hooligans.

I'm ashamed to say that the thugs in question were supporters of SSC Napoli, my Italian footballing poison of choice.

Napoli's ultras are a continuing nuisance in Italian football, consistently showing a complete lack of ability to behave. On Sunday, the Azzurri played Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. Given Napoli's propensity for trouble and the fact that Roma fans are pretty low in their own right, away supporters were originally banned from this 'high risk' game. They were reinstated as 'an act of good faith'.

In amongst a whole stack of exaggerated propaganda, The Roman Forum describes how the travelling Napoli tifosi repayed this faith:

"The train ride from Naples resulted in damages worth €500 thousand: ripped covers, seats cut open, broken windows, torn up bathrooms and a general wreckage in 11 out of the 15 train compartments. Innocent passengers returning from their vacations were asked to vacate the train by the police department, and four train guards were sent to the hospital after being attacked, and many travelers were forced to postpone their departures from Naples due to the chaos caused by the ultras fans.

"In the afternoon, after a 1-1 tie which also featured grave acts of violence, paper bombs exploded in Termini train station, and fights between police and fans erupted as many hopped on board without tickets, covering their faces with scarves and hats, ready for a fight. One supporter was harmed in the disorder, though not seriously; four were arrested."

Nice. What a well behaved bunch. A more cynical man might suggest that English supporters have suffered disproportionately in the reporting of such incidents over the years. You can bet your bottom dollar that the authorities would come down on English football like a ton of bricks if this had happened in London.

Unsurprisingly, a suitably harsh punishment has been imposed. Partenopei supporters will be banned from all away games from the rest of the season and may find high risk home games played behind closed doors. It's drastic, but what option was there?

I'm a big Napoli fan, but I'm disgusted by this behaviour and I support the authorities in their punishment. But the whole incident highlights Italian football's serious problems with hooliganism - and it's not just Napoli.

(Photo Credit: The Offside)