Napoli given stadium ban over fans' conduct

ROME, Sep 28 (Reuters) Napoli will host Genoa behind closed doors on Sunday as punishment for their fans' conduct at Wednesday's Serie A game against Livorno, Italian media reported.

Napoli fans had displayed an offensive banner, set off smoke bombs and thrown bottles - ''one of which hit the chest of a (referee's) assistant, causing him pain'', La Gazzetta dello Sport quoted the Italian Soccer League as saying on its Web site (www.gazzetta.it) yesterday.

Italian soccer has been beset by crowd trouble in recent years and is still recovering from the death of a police officer at a Serie A game in Catania in February.

Sunday's derby match between Sampdoria and Genoa was marred by clashes between rival fans before kick off.

Earlier on Sunday, Rome police arrested 66 Lazio fans, some armed with knives, machetes, clubs and knuckle-dusters, before they could set off for a match against Atalanta in Bergamo.

REUTERS BJR PM1050