Brussels, 08/02/2007 (Agence Europe) -Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs Franco Frattini wishes to meet with the new president of the European Football Union (UEFA), Michel Platini, to discuss the problems of violence and racism in football, a spokesperson indicated on Thursday. “Vice President Frattini has invited Michel Platini, president of UEFA, to discuss issues of violence and racism”, announced Friso Roscam Abbing. “It is an urgent matter”, he added, stating that a meeting should take place "in the next days and weeks”. The commissioner would like to discuss several subjects, among them the freedom of movement of hooligans in the EU, racism inside and outside football stadiums and exchanging information on hooligans, the spokesperson said, adding that measures such as “fan coaching” could also be mentioned. This announcement comes following an incident where a policeman was killed last week during clashes between supporters outside a match between Catania and Palermo in Italy. All matches in the country had been suspended. Under the terms of a decree adopted on Wednesday night at an extraordinary Council of Ministers in Rome, games must be played behind closed doors in all stadiums in Italy where the installations and organisation do not conform to legal provisions (as a result, five matches in the Serie A top division of Italian football will be played behind closed doors next Sunday). This measure was criticised by the rapporteur on security at football matches, Italian MEP Giusto Catania (GUE/NGL), on Thursday in a press statement. “Play without fans is a philosophical mistake”, he said, “football without an audience only helps TV commercial interests. We cannot accept a show without spectators, it would be better not to play at all”. (bc/hb)