Italy keen on keeping ban intact

New Delhi: Italy's football industry has urged the country's sporting authorities to lift a ban on matches even as the nation paused for the funeral of policeman Filippo Raciti, killed by rioting fans on Friday.

Raciti's coffin, draped in the Italian flag, was carried by his colleagues up to the cathedral with a large crowd of onlookers. Fellow officers were seen crying openly.

Italy was stunned by the outcome of riots at a derby between Catania and Palermo, in which Raciti died and over 70 people were injured.

The government is now pondering over keeping the suspension in place for at least two weeks and holding matches behind closed doors once that is over.