Milan`s football heavyweights, FC Inter and AC Milan, are taking a significant step to address long-standing issues within their supporter base. Ahead of the upcoming season, both clubs have announced stringent measures aimed at preventing individuals deemed `unwelcome` from obtaining season tickets, particularly in the curva sections at the iconic San Siro stadium.
The Crackdown Explained
This decisive action follows months of scrutiny, including the recent `Doppia curva` investigation, which shed light on alleged criminal activities intertwined with organized fan groups. Working closely with the Milan Public Prosecutor`s Office and local police headquarters, the clubs have reportedly rejected hundreds of season ticket renewal applications.
The criteria for being labeled `unwelcome` extend beyond formal stadium bans (Daspo) to include individuals previously reported or administratively sanctioned for disruptive conduct or involvement in violent incidents. This includes behaviors highlighted by those who have collaborated with justice authorities on fan-related matters. The stated objective is clear and direct: to dismantle the `criminal system` that authorities and clubs believe has taken root over the years, ensuring fan sections are used for legitimate support, not illicit or disruptive activities.
Sources indicate this move also builds upon previous actions taken to limit the influence of certain organized groups, such as the reported cancellation of registered fan group names historically associated with the Curva Nord and Curva Sud sections.
New Security Measures Introduced
Beyond the initial season ticket rejections, additional security protocols are being implemented at San Siro. Season tickets specifically for the curva sections, traditionally areas with concentrated ultra presence and vibrant, albeit sometimes problematic, fan culture, will now be strictly non-transferable. This measure aims to prevent tickets from circulating on unauthorized secondary markets or being used by individuals other than the registered holder, thus limiting control by potential illicit elements.
Furthermore, the San Siro stadium is set to receive a technological upgrade focused on enhancing security screening. Plans are in motion to install a facial recognition camera system at the turnstiles. This system is intended to improve the enforcement of bans and identify individuals of concern upon entry. While a significant step, it`s noted that this technology is expected to be operational `early next year`, suggesting it may not be fully in place for the very start of the new football season ticket period.
Context and Implications
The `Doppia curva` investigation appears to have served as a critical catalyst for these changes, bringing to the forefront issues that many observers argue have long plagued sections of Italian football stadiums. While the primary stated goals are to improve safety and sever connections with criminal or disruptive elements, these measures also represent a notable shift in the dynamics between football clubs and traditional, highly organized fan groups.
For decades, ultras in Italy have exerted considerable influence, sometimes involving activities that spill beyond mere fandom. The clubs` current move, strongly supported by law enforcement agencies, signifies a clear effort to reassert control over the stadium environment and cultivate a match-day experience focused purely on the sport itself. This is seen by proponents as a necessary step towards modernizing stadium management and prioritizing the safety and legality of attendance above all else, perhaps acknowledging that the boundary between fervent `passion` and outright criminality had become dangerously blurred.
Looking Ahead
As Inter and AC Milan prepare to welcome fans for the next season, the stands at San Siro, particularly the curvas, may indeed look and feel different. The denial of entry to `unwelcome fans`, coupled with non-transferable tickets and the impending facial recognition technology, marks a determined effort by the clubs and cooperating authorities to address deep-seated problems. It aims to create a safer and more controlled environment for all attendees.
Whether this strict stance proves entirely effective in the long term at dismantling the criminal ties and altering the established fan culture remains a subject of anticipation and debate. However, it unequivocally signals a departure from past tolerance and a commitment to a new, perhaps less overtly passionate but hopefully more secure, era for San Siro.
Elton Marrow