ROME, Jan. 30 -- Sports authorities announced Monday all sporting activity would be suspended in Italy next Sunday to honor a 24- year-old Genoa soccer fan stabbed to death last Sunday outside his city's stadium. Italian Olympic Committee President Mario Pescante made the announcement jointly with the president of the Italian Soccer Federation Antonio Matarrese.
The decision was taken in response to the widespread outrage caused by the fatal stabbing of Vincenzo Spagnolo by a supporter of rival Serie A team AC Milan. Spagnolo was stabbed outside the Luigi Ferraris Stadium during a fight with AC Milan supporters before the teams' match in Genoa. Referee Gianni Beschin abandoned the match at half-time with the score at 0-0 when news of Spagnolo's death spread round the ground, inflaming the mood of the home supporters.
