Trouble forces Como abandonment

Crowd disturbances forced the abandonment of Como Calcio's home Serie A match against Udinese Calcio on Wednesday.

Third penalty
Como fans reacted violently to referee Massimiliano Saccani's decision to award Udinese their third penalty of the match in the 67th minute. Promoted last season, Como have not won in the league this term. They were losing 1-0 and were down to ten men after defender Fabio Pecchia had been sent off for handling the ball on the goalline.

Juarez hit
The home side's fans threw flares and tried to force their way on to the pitch by breaking down metal barriers. Como's Brazilian defender Juarez was hit on the head by a missile as the players returned to the changing rooms and the club's president, Enzo Preziosi, tried to calm the situation.

Pinzi goals
Fifteen minutes later the players returned to the pitch, but were again met with a hail of objects, forcing the referee to abandon the match. Udinese missed two first-half penalties, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Roberto Muzzi spurning the chances in the 29th and 31st minutes. Giampiero Pinzi finally broke the deadlock for the visitors on 33 minutes.

Other incidents
This is not the first time this season that violence by supporters has disrupted Italian football. Two weeks ago Francesco Baldini, the captain of Serie B club SSC Napoli, was attacked while driving his car and last month Messina FC goalkeeper Emanuele Manitta was hospitalised after a Cagliari Calcio fan ran on the pitch and punched him unconscious.

Violence condemned
The incidents prompted a protest by players, who started Serie A matches on 9 December 15 minutes late and read out a pre-match statement condemning violence of all kinds.