Celtic kept waiting after safety meeting

Celtic and Scotland were kept waiting last night after a meeting between Italian Football League representatives and state police officials ended without any announcement on whether stadiums in the country would be reopened.

The meeting at government headquarters in Rome was expected to provide the answer to where Celtic will play their Champions League away leg against AC Milan.

The San Siro was opened to season-ticket holders for Sunday’s match against Livorno after stadium officials and contractors worked around the clock to install new turnstiles, as demanded in a crackdown on security by the government.

However the Rossoneri, who share the stadium with Inter Milan, had still to convince the authorities their home was fit to be filled to capacity by Italian and Scottish supporters for the last-16 match on March 7.

Only 21,000 home fans attended the Livorno Serie A match, while almost four times that would be expected to attend a match against Celtic, presenting security issues far outweighing those experienced at the weekend, when seven turnstiles proved temperamental.

Deputy director general of public security Antonio Manganelli, whose team drew up the initial list of which stadia met the requirements and which did not, attended yesterday’s meeting.

New security criteria have been enforced following the events in Catania which led to the death of policeman Filippo Raciti on February 2.

UEFA have expressed optimism that Milan’s San Siro home will be given the green light to stage matches in the usual manner, however they are ready to accept whatever decision the Italian government come to.

Newcastle’s St James’ Park is a potential fall-back option for Milan, as is the Stade de France in Paris.

Only Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, Genoa’s Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Turin’s Stadio Olimpico, Palermo’s Stadio Renzo Barbera, Siena’s Stadio Artemio Francho and Cagliari’s Stadio Sant’Elia have had the all-clear from the Italian authorities so far.

Bari – due to stage Scotland’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy on March 28 - was one of 25 stadia considered “at present inadequate” last week.

It is believed the modifications required at Bari’s San Nicola stadium should be completed well before Scotland’s visit.

Roma have been given the all-clear to host Lyon in the Champions League on February 21 but Livorno will stage their UEFA Cup clash with Espanyol behind closed doors tonight after Italy’s Ministry of Home Affairs passed judgement.

Their Armando Picchi stadium has not received clearance, despite the city’s hopes that emergency works would be completed in time to allow them to welcome fans for the game.

The decision has left the Tuscan outfit bitterly upset.

“It is a defeat for the whole of football,” said coach Daniele Arrigoni. “Not only for Livorno, but for the whole city and the whole of Italy.

“For us, this is an historic event and we are very disappointed not to be able to have the support of our fans.”