BUCHAREST, Feb 4 - Romanian football must crack down on its own violent supporters to avoid a repeat of the scenes which shocked Italian soccer last week, national team captain Cristian Chivu said on Sunday.

His side were due to play Italy in a friendly in Siena on Wednesday but the game has been cancelled along with all other Italian soccer matches after a policeman was killed during a riot following Catania's Serie A match with Palermo on Friday.

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

"Romanian authorities must not wait for similar events, like the death of an Italian policeman in Catania, to happen in local soccer," Chivu, who plays for Italian side Roma, told reporters.

A fierce rivalry between Bucharest clubs Steaua, Dinamo and Rapid has often led to violent clashes between fans, resulting in at least one death.

"A lot of people have died so far in world soccer, the last died in Catania and this is unacceptable," Chivu added.

"To cancel the friendly with Romania was a good decision, because Italy are the world champions and they have to offer a convincing example for fighting against violence."