Football: Holland refuses to pay for Rome damage by fans
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Football: Holland refuses to pay for Rome damage by fans

Football: Holland refuses to pay for Rome damage by fans

di lettura
(AGI) Rome Feb 20 - Damage caused by Feyenoord football fans inthe centre of Rome on Thursday will not be paid for by theNetherlands, they said. Dutch fans have already refused. TheBarcaccia fountain had suffered "irreparable damage". At least110 scratches have been identified, causing permanent damagethat would leave an indelible mark, said councillor forculture, Giovanna Marinelli. Works were being carried out toclean and restore the fountain as quickly as possible. Rome'schief of police, Nicolo D'Angelo said he preferred disorder, afew hurled cans and even a spot of damage to deaths, and hewould not intervene. The risk had not been underestimated, and1,800 officers were deployed, 600 in the historic city centre.Ms Marinelli thanked the restorers and Rome's cultural heritageauthority for their meticulous work, which would enable thewater to the fountain to be turned on again. Rome Mayor IgnazioMarino said the cost of the damage, in an area subject to urbanguerilla warfare, was high but not quantifiable yet. There wasalso the damage to the city's image, and many traders had beenforced to shut their shops. It was hard to think of askingbenefactors for money for restoration when damage might becaused again in two or three months time. He would not saywhether the chief of police, prefect or interior ministershould resign, but he had been mayor for more than a year and ahalf, and the city had a huge security problem. Some districtswere taken over by drug pushers, others by prostitutes andothers where violence at night was a problem, and this wasunacceptable. The Dutch authorities said they will not pay forthe damage. The mayor said the Dutch ambassador had claimedthat the Netherlands could not be held responsible. However,numerous Italian companies, institutions and banks hadtelephoned with offers of help to pay for repairs to themonument, which was designed by Italian artists Pietro and GianLorenzo Bernini. (AGI) . .
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