Authorities in Rome have prohibited the
installation of giant screens to watch Friday's Euro 2008 game between Italy and Romania in order to prevent possible riots.
Police fear clashes between opposing fans as the tension has been high in Rome after a Romanian immigrant last fall assaulted and killed a woman in a Rome suburb.
"We don9t feel safe," said Eugen Tertelac, the president of
association of Romanians in Italy, who advised his compatriots to watch the
game at home. "Football could trigger unpleasant events."
Italy are the reigning world champions and go into the second game of Group C
after a 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands.
The Azzurri are looking for a win against Romania to keep alive their hopes for
qualification to the quarter-finals of the tournament jointly hosted by Austria and Switzerland. Romania drew 0-0 with France and also nourish hopes to qualify.
Italy defender Fabio Grosso said it will just be a football game. "We
have a lot at stake, but only from a sports point of view. That9s all."
Marian Mocanu, who leads another association of Romanians in Italy, said he refuses to believe that there can be tensions. "The spirit of sport is
something else," he said.
Focusing on the match, Romania defender Cristian Chivu, who plays with Italian
champions Inter Milan, said that "(Italy) are the ones who have to come
forward. They can try and we9ll give them hell."
Romania also field striker Adrian Mutu, who was the past season9s fourth best
scorer with 17 goals for Fiorentina, dpa
reported.
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