Time Changed For Turin Derby
Copyright � 2000 Nando Media
Copyright � 2000 Agence France-Presse
MILAN, Italy (March 17, 2000 10:17 a.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com) - The Turin soccer derby between
Juventus and Torino has been brought forward to 1400 GMT on
Sunday after the Interior Ministry intervened.
The game had been scheduled for 1930 GMT on Sunday but a row
erupted over ticket allocations for the game and the ministry
stepped in to rule the match had become an issue of public
order.
The two Serie A clubs share Turin's Delle Alpi stadium but
Juventus, the home side on Sunday, had for the first time refused to give Torino supporters' tickets for their traditional "home end" at the north of the stadium.
Angry Torino fans threatened to blockade the entrance to the
section of the stadium known as the "Maratona" if the decision
was not overturned.
Juventus had argued it was unfair for their season ticket holders in the Maratona to have to move seats to make way for visiting supporters.
Massimo Brutti, under-secretary at the Interior Ministry, ruled that the Maratona area should be given over to Torino fans and that the game should be moved to the afternoon to help police.
Torino president Massimo Vidulich welcomed the decision. "It is a triumph for common sense. Without this move a day of celebration could have become a day of tension."
All other fixtures in Serie A remain unchanged.
