ROME – (Lega Serie A) The 2010/11 Coppa Italia final takes place tomorrow, Sunday 29 May 2011, at 21:00 in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The event is expected to be a sell-out and with two sets of fans travelling to the neutral venue from different cities, considerable organisation is required to ensure public safety as vast numbers of people move through the capital. These and related issues were discussed over the last few days at Rome police headquarters in Via San Vitale by members of the task force summoned by the questore (chief of police). The principal concern is to guarantee maximum accessibility to the stadium by providing assistance to supporters of both teams, in keeping with the public order management policies implemented since the start of the football season. Separate transport changeover points have been designated to facilitate travel through the city using the metro lines and the public shuttle services.
Supporters arriving in their own vehicles will be directed by the traffic police at the motorway exit gates and at other possible access routes to the city. Vehicles left in the allocated parking areas will be guarded by the police forces for the duration of the event. To assist fans, and avoid congestion on the public transport services running to the Stadio Olimpico, the stadium gates will open at 17:00. Metro system line A will run until 1.30 am for the benefit of fans returning to the assembly points. The two Clubs are providing a further 140 stewards to assist those already involved in the organisation of the event. The area under surveillance for the maintenance of public order has been extended to include the historic centre, and plain clothes officers will monitor activity and alert the event's Public Safety Management Unit if deemed necessary, thereby guaranteeing a rapid redeployment of forces.
