THE KILLING of FILIPPO RACITI

On January 27, 2007 in Catania Sicily, thirty-eight year old Italian police inspector Filippo Raciti gave evidence at the trial of a local notorious football Ultra, only then to see him freed by a magistrate.

As the youth left the court he laughed in the inspector's face. Hurling insults and claiming he would pay a heavy price. One week later whilst helping to stem a riot outside the Angelo Massimino stadium between supporters of deadly Sicilian rivals Catania and Palermo Raciti was dead.

Killed by a homemade firecracker that struck him and exploded.

After being hit Raciti was rushed to hospital but sadly died from severe injuries. As news broke of his tragic demise the reverberations reached even the holy corridors of the Vatican with the pope sending a telegraph condemning '˜any violent gesture which stains the game of football'˜.

Filippo Raciti's death left behind not just a heartbroken wife and young family but also a realisation amongst both the Italian supporters and government that things had to change, The Ultra violence which erupted weekly in half empty stadiums was a problem that could no longer be tolerated.

After an emergency meeting the Italian football federation announced the immediate suspension of all matches, Including Italy's international against Romania due to be played that following Wednesday. Calcio was in mourning.

It's chief commissioner Luca Pancalli spoke through tears when he said: '˜it is incredible for someone to lose their life at thirty-eight. This is not a sport, it is war.
No more'.

For Filippo Raciti's funeral in his home town of Catania thousands shown to pay their respect and honour a young man felled way before his time. Italy's interior minister Guiliano Amato flew from Rome and spoke passionately that '˜Raciti's death would not be meaningless'˜.

That if matters carry on then they would shut down stadiums, play matches behind closed doors. Finally they were serious. '˜I know it is excessive to have football played without a public, but it is even more excessive that someone should die for football'˜.

But the most poignant tribute came from Filippo's wife Angela whom accompanied by her two children, aged nine and fifteen took to the pulpit and told the congregation she prayed '˜her husband's death might help end the violence in Italian football'˜.

Three years later justice was finally served when local youths twenty-year old Antonio Speziale and twenty-three year old Danielle Micalle were charged with complicity in inspector Raciti's murder and handed fourteen and eleven year sentences respectively.

Even today rumours exist that Raciti may well have been targeted by fanatical Ultras for giving evidence against one of their own a week before he died. In Sicily such deeds are deemed treacherous and punishable by death. Tragically it appears police inspector Filippo Raciti paid the ultimate price.