Kaka could leave Italy if violence continues

TERESOPOLIS, Brazil: AC Milan and Brazilian midfielder Kaka said on Tuesday he would consider leaving Italian soccer if fan violence and other scandals continued to dog the game there.

Kaka said he was saddened and shocked by the hooliganism that forced his side's game at Atalanta in Bergamo on Sunday to be abandoned after seven minutes.

"It's sad and I was a direct victim because the fans stopped the game and we didn't play," he told reporters after training with Brazil, which is away to Peru in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

"It was a sad experience."

The violence followed the shooting of a Lazio fan by a police officer following scuffles with Juventus supporters at a motorway service station. Police said the shooting was accidental.

Italy was also hit by a match-fixing scandal two years ago, dubbed Calciopoli, and the killing of a policeman during riots outside a Catania match in February.

"Something must be done, it's a social problem and it goes beyond football," said Kaka.

"In the end, it's the players who are punished. They cancel the game, the championship is suspended, we never know when we are going to play, but we have to keep training and make ourselves available."

Urban violence

Asked if the problems could prompt him to leave, Kaka, a top target for Real Madrid, replied: "Of course it could. It's not the first time.

"It's not that I want to change clubs because I'm happy at Milan, but if these situations keep happening, I have to wonder whether it's worth it and if I'm still enjoying what I'm doing."

Kaka added that he found Brazil's urban violence more frightening.

"It's different," he said. "The threat of kidnapping frightens me more but this is still worrying.

"A lot of families and children are in the stadiums and our own families are there as well."

Earlier on Tuesday, Kaka said in an interview with Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport that other top players would shun Italy if the trouble continued.

"All these acts of violence risk distancing the top players from our Serie A," he said.

"The world class players want to play in great teams and in Italy there are some of the most prestigious clubs in the world. But they are also looking for joy and enthusiasm."

Agencies

(China Daily 11/15/2007 page23)