UEFA chief Platini backs Italy stance against violence

UEFA president Michel Platini gave his support on Saturday to the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) decision to suspend play at all levels of the game in the country following the death of a policeman at a match.

Platini, elected UEFA president on January 26, also offered condolences to the family of the policeman killed in clashes between fans at a Serie A game in Sicily on Friday, the second soccer-related death in Italy in a week.

"Firstly, I extend my heartfelt personal condolences, together with those of the entire European football family, to the family of the police officer, Filippo Raciti, who lost his life yesterday," Platini said.

"Violence of any sort is unacceptable and it has absolutely no place in the game of football -- we do not condone it, we must not accept it and we must act to eradicate it," he added in a statement on the official UEFA Web site (www.uefa.com).