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Security to be upped at violence-hit stadium

Security at Zurich's Letzigrund stadium, the scene of violence at a local football derby on Sunday, is to be tightened, officials have announced.

This content was published on October 6, 2011 - 21:50
swissinfo.ch and agencies

The game between top division Grasshoppers and FC Zurich was stopped 15 minutes before the end after unrest broke out in the terraces. A group apparently threw firecrackers and flares.

It was the first time in the history of professional Swiss football that a match had been halted and the violence was widely condemned in Switzerland.

Security chiefs at FC Zurich, the city of Zurich and the Swiss Football League met on Thursday to discuss measures ahead of the next game in the stadium on October 23 between FC Zurich and FC Basel.

They have decided to use temporary building measures to improve security, Zurich city official Marc Caprez told the Swiss news agency. 

It was announced after the meeting that they wanted any future games to be abandoned immediately if a flare was lit inside the Letzigrund stadium.

A man arrested after violence has already been sentenced to six months in prison. Police said another man turned himself in on Thursday.

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In compliance with the JTI standards

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