Roma get go-ahead for late kickoff against Lyon

ROME, Feb 13 (Reuters) The Italian government confirmed today that AS Roma's Champions League last 16 first-leg match against Olympique Lyon on February 21 would kickoff at the scheduled time of 0015 hrs.

All night matches in Italy were suspended as part of a new anti-hooligan plan introduced following the death of policeman Filippo Raciti outside a Serie A match on February 2.

''We didn't doubt that (we would get approval for the late kickoff) because we know the Olympic Stadium is safe,'' Roma's sporting director Daniele Prade said.

The Olympic Stadium is one of six Serie A grounds that comply fully with security regulations governing Italian stadiums.

Earlier today, Roma avoided a fine when the disciplinary committee of Italy's Football League found the club not responsible for the small section of supporters who whistled during the one-minute's silence in memory of Raciti that preceded the Serie A game against Parma at the weekend.

The whistles were quickly drowned out by applause from the rest of the ground.

''The great majority of the spectators clearly showed they wanted nothing to do with this kind of behaviour,'' read a statement on the Football League's Web site (www.lega-calcio.it).

Reuters SSC VP0022