Although the decree has not been voted on or the details yet confirmed, rumours are emerging on what the Government and football authorities worked out in today’s meetings.

One point had already been mentioned by Minister for Sport Giovanna Melandri, as stadiums will not be allowed to host games with fans in the stands until they have passed the Legge Pisanu tests.

The new law “annuls with immediate effect” all existing ‘passes’ handed out by the local councils to delay the implementation of the Pisanu recommendations. Currently, only Palermo, Rome, Turin and Siena would be able to host matches, the others would play behind closed doors.

Another section to the law introduced after Catania fans killed a police officer during Friday’s riots outside the Stadio Massimino involves reducing the number of away supporters travelling en masse.

The clubs that organise games can no longer sell “directly or indirectly” a block of tickets to the away teams. One person cannot buy more than 10 tickets.

Violation of this order would result in a fine from £6,500 to £99,000. Importantly, this rule is retroactive, so any tickets bought in bulk up until now will “no longer be valid.”

The police and magistrates will be given more sweeping powers in their treatment of hooligans.

The so-called Daspo – a banning order restricting fans with convictions from attending matches – will be increased to a maximum of seven years and become effective even if the person is only suspected of having participated in football-related violence. Violation of this order could result in a six month to three year prison sentence and a fine up to £6,500.

Police can now arrest a hooligan “in flagrante” up to 48 hours after the event, an extension from the current 36 hours. This defines people caught on camera committing violent acts.

Up until now, the fast-track judicial system only applied to those who were caught throwing dangerous objects or invading the pitch, but the new law extends that to people found in possession of fireworks, smoke bombs or other “pyrotechnic articles.”

There will be a stronger clampdown on police clashes, as the minimum prison sentence for resisting arrest or attacking an officer will rise from the current three years to five, while the maximum remains 15.

The terms of the offence also extend to “the throwing of objects, including pyrotechnic articles, to put people in danger.”

The Government is also eager to end the close ties between clubs and the Ultras groups, as those found to have “aided and abetted” people involved in football-related violence can be charged.

There could also be the confiscation of assets from those who “help, in any way, the activities of those who take part in violent acts during sporting events.”

The Government will discuss the law on Wednesday, while on Thursday inspections will be carried out to decide which stadiums can host matches.

“There was a climate of great collaboration,” explained FIGC Extraordinary Commissioner Luca Pancalli.

“We will decide when to get back on to the pitch after tomorrow’s Government meeting and on Thursday the security forces will tell us which stadiums can reopen.”

The get-together saw Interior Minister Giuliano Amato, Sport Minister Giovanna Melandri, Vice-Minister for Sport Marco Minniti and Police Chief Gianni De Gennaro discuss the situation with FIGC Commissioner Pancalli, Vice-Commissioner Gigi Riva, Lega Calcio President Antonio Matarrese, Vice-President Rosella Sensi and Serie C Lega President Mario Macalli.

“I wouldn’t talk about this as a victory just yet, but the air is changing in our direction,” smiled Matarrese, who had pushed strongly for the season to begin again this weekend.

The meeting concluded at around 21.00 local time, 20.00 in the UK, with all parties seeming confident that the season would resume within the next few days.

However, there remains a warning from the Minister for Sport on what conditions the football will be allowed to continue.

“The stadiums that do not fit the standards set out by the Legge Pisanu will not be used,” noted Melandri.

That suggests the games set in arenas that have not yet passed the tests for CCTV networks, turnstiles, electronic ticketing and a pre-filtering area will be played behind closed doors.

It would be a heavy blow to Serie A, where only four stadiums currently fit the bill – the Olimpico in Rome, Palermo’s Barbera, the Franchi in Siena and Olimpico in Turin.

Cagliari, Empoli, Messina, Parma, Reggio Calabria and Genoa are almost completed and may be granted a temporary court order to allow fans into some or all sections.

Milan, Livorno and Florence are further back in the work needed to qualify under the Legge Pisanu.

All other stadiums in Serie A will not be allowed to let fans in for the foreseeable future, including Udine, Catania and Bergamo.

“We have all of a sudden been told that we don’t have the authority to play in our stadium,” snapped Atalanta President Ivan Ruggeri.

“It seems a bizarre situation, because we still don’t know if it’s the club or the local council who must pay for this restructuring work. If there are no fans or the order to play behind closed doors, we simply won’t go ahead.”

What would once have been a top-of-table clash is now a meeting between Scudetto wannabes and relegation fodder as Roma welcome Parma to the Stadio Olimpico. The Catania tragedy has allowed both sides plenty of rest since their last fixtures, but that is often the last thing you need when you are looking to chase rather than consolidate.

In the Giallorossi’s case it is Inter who are leaving them in their wake, with the Nerazzurri a whopping 11 points clear at the top of the table. Parma’s position is somewhat more desperate, given that they are lingering in 19th place, three points off the foot of the table and just a point away from climbing out of the drop zone.

It’s a big ask for the Gialloblu to claw themselves out of danger yet, as the Olimpico hasn’t always been the best of stomping grounds for them – last term saw Roma earn a crushing 4-1 win. Nonetheless, Parma boss Stefano Pioli will have more belief due to the fact that he is able to name the same team who battled valiantly in defeat at Milan. Giuseppe Cardone and Andrea Pisanu are both absent through injury though, but Andrea Gasbarroni should shake off a bout of the flu to take his place on the bench.

Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti is also unlikely to ring the changes, although much of that owes to his lack of options. Francesco Totti makes his return to the starting XI as the lone striker, taking the place of Mirko Vucinic, despite the former Lecce man netting his first goal for the club in their last Serie A match against Siena. January signing Francesco Tavano is likely to join him on the bench.

Cristian Chivu is another high-profile name likely to miss out with injury as Spalletti is tipped to name Christian Panucci as Matteo Ferrari’s central-defensive partner. Philippe Mexes is still suffering from the same injury which kept him out of France’s defeat to Argentina in midweek. While this game is unlikely to be decisive for Parma, failure for Roma to pick up the three points would spell the end of their Scudetto bid. No pressure then lads…

Man on fire: Amantino Mancini (Roma) – The Brazilian’s form in 2007 has been one of the few bright points for the Giallorossi as they look to find their best form.

Last season: Roma 4-1 Parma

Form guide: Roma (W W D D W) Parma (D L L W L)

Roma (probable): Doni; Cassetti, Panucci, Ferrari, Tonetto; De Rossi, Pizarro; Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini; Totti

Parma (probable): Bucci; Perna, Couto, Paci; Ferronetti, Grella, Bolano, Castellini; Morfeo; Rossi, Budan

Ref: To follow...

The two men spoke at the meeting with Minister for Sport Giovanna Melandri in Rome today as part of a drive to increase sports activity in schools, but there seemed to be no headway in their negotiations for international duty.

“I said hello to Donadoni, but right now I have more important things to think about,” said the Roma captain.

Totti has taken an extended hiatus from the Azzurri after the 2006 World Cup, claiming he will only consider a comeback once the screws are removed from his fractured ankle in September.

Donadoni has made it perfectly clear he’d prefer an immediate return following his splendid form for the Giallorossi this season.

Meanwhile, the former Roma Ultra’ commented on the closure of all but six Italian stadia under new rules clamping down on violent fans.

“Playing behind closed doors is a defeat for everyone, the players and the public. I agree with the idea we must resume, though, because to stay still would mean giving victory to the hooligans. We must remember that football is above all entertainment.”

All football activity in Italy was suspended following the death of Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti in the Catania riots, though Serie A and B resumes this weekend.

“When my son Cristian grows up, I hope I’ll be able to tell him about a more beautiful game than this. The most important thing for us players is to see young people happy in the stands. We’ll try to bring that spirit with us to the stadium, leaving out violence and politics, which don’t belong in sport.”

“Undoubtedly some of our enthusiasm has been sapped by the tragedy and we all feel like shouldering some of the guilt for what happened, but I see it as an opportunity and a duty to improve our profession,” said the tactician.

All football activity in Italy was suspended after 38-year-old Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti was killed as Catania Ultras rioted outside the Stadio Massimino on February 2.

Sweeping new laws were introduced to ensure the Legge Pisanu recommendations were finally implemented, but Spalletti does not agree that stadiums not up to standard must be shut down.

“We have to open our doors to the people, not close them. Everyone must know they are welcome to come in and behave well. We’re starting from the team, as I told my players to be less ‘sneaky’ and banal in their reactions to incidents.”

The Giallorossi will have their crowd at the Stadio Olimpico when Parma arrive on Sunday afternoon, although the planned Scudetto showdown with Inter has been postponed until April.

“It would’ve been better to play Inter first if we’d have won! In reality, this game will be every bit as difficult. We’re missing a few players, but in the past these lads have always stepped up when needed.”

Philippe Mexes, Cristian Chivu and Ricardo Faty are out of action, so Gianluca Freddi and Massimiliano Marsili have been recalled from the Viareggio Youth Tournament.

Francesco Totti has recovered from an ankle injury, while Christian Panucci is struggling through a flu virus.

Roma squad: Cassetti, Curci, De Rossi, Defendi, Ferrari, Julio Sergio Mancini, Doni, Panucci, Perrotta, Pizarro, Rosi, Taddei, Tavano, Tonetto, Totti, Vucinic, Wilhelmsson, Freddi, Marsili.

Francesco Totti scored his 139th Serie A goal as Roma comfortably swept Parma aside.

Totti recovered from a knock to face Parma, but Philippe Mexes, Cristian Chivu, Alberto Aquilani and Ricardo Faty were out of action. The visitors were increasingly desperate in 19th place, with Vincenzo Grella and Giuseppe Cardone injured, while they had won at the Olimpico only once in 16 previous Serie A visits.

Rodrigo Taddei drilled over after just 45 seconds, then Totti combined with David Pizarro for a deflected shot.

Parma's hopes of a revival are tied up in January signing Giuseppe Rossi and the former Premiership starlet forced Alexander Doni to rush off his line to clear.

Veteran goalkeeper Luca Bucci was kept busy by Marco Cassetti and Simone Perrotta efforts, then Taddei and Pizarro had chances.

The deadlock was eventually broken by captain Totti. Pizarro got away down the left and chipped in a cross for his precise free header from six yards. It was his 139th Serie A goal for the club.

Amantino Mancini thought he had scored, but it was disallowed as he was offside when redirecting Totti's header from a Pizarro free kick.

The Giallorossi got that second goal soon after with a classic team move from Luciano Spalletti's men. All one-touch football from Totti's backheel to De Rossi and Max Tonetto for Perrotta to tap in.

Fernando Couto foolishly got himself sent off in the final minute for dissent. Already booked, he continued his protests and received a second yellow card in the space of 10 seconds.

Roma rounded out the 3-0 scoreline in stoppages when a corner kick was deflected into the path of Taddei to turn in at the back post.

Roma: Doni; Cassetti, Panucci, Ferrari, Tonetto; De Rossi, Pizarro; Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini; Totti

Parma: Bucci; Perna (Pisanu 70), Couto, Contini; Ferronetti, Bolano, Parravicini (Cigarini 52), Castellini; Morfeo; Budan, Rossi

Ref: Trefoloni

Sent off: Couto 89 (P)