Star players worried by violence

MADRID, Spain -- Top footballers could shun Italian clubs and look to play in Spain or England in preference if soccer-related violence continues says Valencia's international striker Fernando Morientes.

"I am convinced that if the situation stays the same, those who will benefit will be teams in England or Spain because the big names will want to leave a complicated situation like that," he told a press conference.

"If I ever get an offer from Italy, I would think twice because the situation right now is very tense," he said, adding Real Madrid's Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro has said he was pleased to be playing in Spain.

"The big loser in all this is football. In this case Italian football and the footballers who play there," he added.

AC Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka said on Tuesday he was considering quitting Italian football amid the increasing violence and scandals surrounding the sport in the country.

A policeman shot dead a football supporter during a scuffle between rival fans at the weekend, sparking violent clashes in several Italian cities, particularly Rome and Milan, leading to the suspension of matches.

Stricter ticketing rules, increased video surveillance and a new rulebook for supporters are being urged by Europe's Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) -- representing over 20 leagues, including the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A .

They have devised a 10-point action-plan to combat the violence which has led to two fatal shootings in the last year.

The plan will be submitted to a summit of European Union ministers, the European Commission, police chiefs, supporters groups and senior soccer officials on November 28.

The EPFL is seeking the formation of a new "Supporter Charter" for fans across Europe which sets out strict rules for their behavior before, during and directly following matches.

"This will be advertised through signs around the stadium, the public speaker system and tickets," a strategy paper said.

The EPFL said it wants supporters groups to be "legally constituted" and help maintain a list of troublemakers or hooligans.

"Clubs should be encouraged to implement and maintain a specified level of technological measures ... including the provisions and equipping of modern police posts with CCTV surveillance systems," the paper said.

UEFA president Michel Platini said on Wednesday that football was being held hostage by the growth in violence.

Platini was speaking after the suspension of second and third division matches in Italy after the shooting and riots.

"It is necessary to stop the people that are holding football hostage and I therefore agree with a ban on the movement of violent fans," Platini told La Repubblica.

But he expressed surprise at the decision by the Italian federation to suspend Serie B and C matches scheduled for the weekend.

"What has football got to do with what happened at Arezzo? Nothing. It's a problem of Italian society, a public order problem. Football is only taken hostage," he said.

"Why the black armband (worn by players), why the suspension of matches? It's too easy. These incidents took place 300km from the stadia, and of what are the football clubs guilty?" he asked.

Spain's Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden in Madrid on Saturday has been deemed a "high risk" match because 6,000 Swedish fans will attend and plans are afoot for several political protests in the Spanish capital.

The National Commission against Violence in Sports made the decision on Wednesday.

Several demonstrations are scheduled for the weekend and the following days in Madrid to coincide with the anniversary of the death on November 20,1975, of Spain's right-wing dictator Francisco Franco.

The date is also the anniversary of his ideological mentor Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera in 1936 and it is traditionally used as a rallying point for small numbers of people who are nostalgic for Franco's fascist regime. E-mail to a friend