Genoa hoping Milan fans can gain access to stadium

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Milan, Aug 22: Genoa President Enrico Preziosi has begged authorities to allow AC Milan fans into his club's stadium for Sunday's Serie A opener.

Magistrates are considering banning Milan supporters from the game because they feel the fixture poses a high risk of hooliganism following the fatal stabbing of a Genoa fan at a match between the two sides in 1995.

Genoa are back in Serie A for the first time since that season.

''To ban access to the stadium for Milan fans would be a failure,'' Preziosi told Italian media today.

Italy has boosted stadium security after a policeman was killed during riots outside a top-flight match in Catania in February.

The championship was briefly suspended following the death and some matches were played behind closed doors while away fans were banned at other games.

This season was expected to start with no restrictions but incidents before last week's Champions League third round qualifier between Lazio and Dinamo Bucharest have heightened awareness of the problem.

''It would be awful if we started in this way for the first match of the season,'' Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso told reporters.

''The best thing for everybody is that all the fans can participate in a soccer match.''

Reuters>