On Thursday a 17-year-old youth protested his innocence as he was placed under investigation for voluntary homicide in the death of police officer Filippo Raciti, 38, last Friday.

"I'm innocent, it wasn't me. Mom, I swear to you it wasn't me," the teenager's lawyer quoted him as tearfully telling the judge as his mother looked on.

The suspect was arrested with three other minors overnight Tuesday after being identified through video footage taken during the riot at a first-division match between bitter Sicilian rivals Catania and Palermo.

The interior ministry later announced that stadiums will be empty Sunday for first-division matches in Bergamo, Verona, Florence, Messina and Milan.

The ministry said that only six of Italy's 31 football venues were considered safe against hooliganism and could host matches with fans in the stands as the rules came into effect following Raciti's death in Catania.

"I'm now expecting the stadiums to meet the required standards relatively quickly," said Interior Minister Giuliano Amato.

"Putting in a few turnstiles is not a NASA mission to the moon and it isn't that expensive either."

All domestic and international matches were cancelled at the weekend in the wake of Friday's riot, which shocked a nation where football-related violence has claimed at least 12 lives since 1962.

Catania was ruled off limits, as well as Parma and Udine, while stadiums in Rome, Turin, Siena, Cagliari, Palermo and Genoa were given a clean bill of health.

"We will play on Sunday," said AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani.

"We have proved our sense of responsibility and decided to play. If a law is passed then we must respect it. Our stadium wasn't outside of the law, it is just that the legislation was passed before our renovation work could be completed."

Livorno striker Cristiano Lucarelli, who represents his Serie A club at the Italian players' union (AIC), warned earlier that fellow Serie A players could stage a strike in protest at the new measures banning fans.

"We respect the government's decisions but we cannot accept that certain teams play without a crowd and others with full stands," said Lucarelli.

"Yesterday (Wednesday) the club presidents sounded out the AIC to know if we are ready, if needs be, for a strike day. And we said yes."

Newly-elected UEFA president Michel Platini will meet Italian footballing officials Friday to discuss what venues Italian clubs can use in European competition, a UEFA spokesman said.

AC Milan said meanwhile that they might play their next home Champions League match in Geneva or Newcastle.

The club owned by Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's former prime minister and now opposition leader, are set to host Scottish giants Celtic in the Champions League last 16, second leg, on March 7.

Authorities spent overnight Wednesday examining video footage of the clashes, dealing with images that were clouded by tear gas and smoke bombs.

Before Thursday's arrest, 34 other people, including 11 minors, were picked up, but none were thought to be directly linked to Raciti's death.

Raciti, married with two sons, died after a home-made bomb was thrown into his car.

According to the Italian press, the 17-year-old arrested Thursday was already known by the police as a troublemaker.

In Brussels, meanwhile, Platini accepted an invitation from EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini, himself an Italian, to discuss football hooliganism and racism with EU officials.

Given the urgency of the meeting, it will be held "in the days and weeks to come," said Commission spokesman Friso Ascam Abbing, although no time or place has yet been agreed.

Among the likely points on the agenda will be "whether or not football hooligans can travel freely to football grounds in the EU," he added.

Racism both inside and outside grounds will also be discussed along with the possibility of "fan coaching for developing a new positive and non-violent attitude."

The talks will also discuss the possibility of an EU-level approach to the problem "with of course the cooperation of UEFA and, if possible, fan associations," Ascam Abbing said.

Fixtures
(all 1400 GMT kick-off)
Sunday
AC Milan v Livorno, AS Roma v Parma, Atalanta v Lazio, Cagliari v Siena, Chievo Verona v Inter Milan, Fiorentina v Udinese, Messina v Catania, Palermo v Empoli, Sampdoria v Ascoli, Torino v Reggina