A Champions League quarter-final second leg between AC Milan and Inter Milan was abandoned after 73 minutes due to fan violence, with Milan awarded the tie 3-0 on aggregate. The match at San Siro on 31 October 2005 was halted after Inter supporters threw flares onto the pitch, one of which struck AC Milan's Brazilian goalkeeper Dida on the shoulder.
Photographer Stefano Rellandini, who captured the iconic image of the incident, recalled the chaotic scene. "Everyone was focused on the flares, on the smoke, but near the centre of the pitch I saw a certain moment," Rellandini said. The referee ordered both teams off the pitch and later abandoned the fixture entirely.
UEFA Sanctions
UEFA's response was swift and severe. Inter Milan were fined £132,000 and ordered to play their next four European matches behind closed doors. The sanctions reflected the governing body's stance on stadium violence, a sentiment echoed at the time by AC Milan's owner and Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who called for drastic measures.
Historical Context
The match was a key moment in the fierce Derby della Madonnina rivalry. Inter, under chairman Massimo Moratti, had broken the world transfer record twice in the late 1990s but were dubbed 'August champions' for failing to turn spending into consistent success. Milan, meanwhile, had won six Italian titles since Inter's last in 1989. That season, Milan progressed to the Champions League final, only to lose to Liverpool on penalties. Inter would later win four consecutive Serie A titles, culminating in a historic Treble in 2010.
The Future of San Siro
The incident is part of the storied history of the San Siro stadium, which opened in 1926 and remains Italy's largest sports venue. Its future, however, is set to change. AC Milan and Inter Milan have unveiled plans for a new €1.2bn (£1bn) stadium, the Generali Stadium, sponsored by Italy's largest insurance company. The 71,500-seat venue, designed to bring fans as close to the pitch as possible, is scheduled to begin construction in 2028 for a planned opening in the 2031-32 season. It is intended to host NFL games, rugby matches, concerts, and could be a venue for Euro 2032.
Some fans have voiced strong opposition to demolishing the historic San Siro. During a recent match, Inter supporters unfurled a banner reading 'You will never extinguish the lights at San Siro' and chanted 'Hands off San Siro'. The clubs acquired the current stadium and adjacent parking areas for €197m, paving the way for the controversial redevelopment project led by architects Norman Foster and David Manica, who previously collaborated on the new Wembley Stadium.
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