State of emergency: Naples before championship celebration

SSC Napoli wants to make the championship title perfect and give the southern Italian city a unique and excessive fan celebration. Thousands of law enforcement officers, extra security for historical buildings, hundreds of mobile medics, extensive roadblocks and even a ban on parties on Mount Vesuvius: If the football coup succeeds, it should remain a peaceful XXL title bash.

First of all, the sporting results have to be right. The starting position on the 32nd matchday of Serie A is simple: only if Napoli wins their home game against US Salernitana (15.00 p.m.) and before that their pursuer Lazio loses at Inter (12.30 p.m.) or only plays a draw, will the southern Italians no longer be at the top of the table to catch up.

“We are facing an extreme challenge, for us, for the city, for everyone,” said coach Luciano Spalletti. “We have wanted to experience nights like this for a long time.” The coach appealed to the Neapolitans to celebrate peacefully and without rioting if they win the title. “There will be a lot of children out and about in the city and nothing should endanger their safety.”

The police and politicians have developed extensive security measures, up to a million guests - including around 250.000 tourists for the long weekend - are expected: First of all, the game was postponed from Saturday to Sunday so that possible championship celebrations could begin in the stadium and the fans and the team can then move towards the center as orderly as possible. The players will probably be taken from the stadium to the city by bus. Large parts of the city center will be closed to traffic from the afternoon until the next morning.

2500 police officers and other law enforcement officers are planned, and the health authorities are sending 140 doctors and nurses onto the streets to provide any first aid measures. 37 historical buildings, statues and fountains are specially guarded. The sale of glass bottles and cans is prohibited in the city. Party ban on Vesuvius Parties are planned in all parts of the city, especially in the once infamous Spanish Quarter in the center of Naples, which has been decorated with blue and white flags, posters and pennants for many weeks. There is also the famous mural of Diego Maradona, the football hero idolized in Naples who led the club to its only two championship titles to date in 1987 and 1990. To mark the end of the more than 30-year wait for the next “Scudetto,” some Tifosi had even planned a very special event: They wanted to set off fireworks high up on Mount Vesuvius, at the foot of which Naples lies, and symbolically cause the volcano to erupt. However, the management of the national park resisted this and emphasized that the crater rim in particular was a dangerous place for such actions. The aim is to work with the local police to ensure that no fans get there.

Serie A Italy	SP	TV	P
1. Naples	7	14:5	16
2. Inter	7	16:9	14
3.Udinese	7	10:10	13
4. Juventus	7	10:1	13
5. Lazio	7	14:11	13
6. Torino	7	12:11	11
View all

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Hockey

Tennis

Winter sports

Learn More

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

State of emergency: Naples before championship celebration

A win against Salernitana and a point loss from pursuers Lazio: That is the master recipe for SSC Napoli on Sunday. The city on Vesuvius is prepared for an XXL title party.

Comments (0)