Romania turn down compensation offer from Italy

BUCHAREST, Feb 5 (Reuters) Romania have turned down Italy's offer of compensation after Wednesday's friendly with the world champions was cancelled after a policeman was killed in a riot following a Serie A match on Friday.

''(Head of Italian Soccer Federation's international department) Sergio di Cesare told us that compensation will be paid for the inconvenience, but the Romanian Soccer Federation (FRF) refused the money,'' FRF director Ionut Lupescu said today.

Lupsecu said the offer was turned down out of sympathy and that Romania hoped the friendly could be re-arranged for later this year or in early 2008.

Romania will now meet Moldova in a hastily-arranged friendly in Bucharest on Wednesday.

All soccer in Italy has been suspended indefinitely following the death of a policeman after the top-flight derby between Catania and Palermo in Sicily.

REUTERS SAM BD1508