Catania banned from home stadium for rest of season

ROME, Feb 14 (Reuters) Catania have been ordered to play the rest of their home matches this season at neutral venues and behind closed doors as punishment for the violence that killed a policeman at a Serie A match this month.

The ban on the Massimino Stadium, which was handed down by the disciplinary committee of the Italian Football League today, will last until June 30.

Catania were also fined 50,000 euros (65,270 dollars).

Italian policeman Filippo Raciti was killed outside the ground during rioting by hard-core ultra fans at the Sicilian derby with Palermo on February 2.

A statement on the Football League's Web site said the ban reflected ''the gravity of the events and the real danger posed by these acts of violence'' that had left an ''indelible mark in the memory and the collective consciousness''.

The punishment also took into consideration ''the absolute uselessness of sanctions already inflicted on Catania for previous acts of violence by its supporters.'' Last September the club was fined and ordered to play two matches behind closed doors after its fans fought with supporters of Messina and Palermo.

REUTERS DH HS1752