Access to Vesuvius Denied as Precautionary Measure Before Napoli Club Match

(CNN) — The Vesuvius National Park Authority announced that it will deny access to the volcano overlooking the Italian city of Naples, as a precautionary measure before the Napoli club match, Sunday, which may see the team win the Italian league title this season.

In the event that Lazio loses to its counterpart Inter Milan, the Italian team may win its first title in the (Calcio) championship in 33 years, if it defeats its rival Salernitana.

“The Vesuvius National Park Authority has learned with great concern from the press of the intention of some members of the Naples team to celebrate the impending championship by staging a simulated eruption of Vesuvius, with an ‘invasion’ and lighting of tricolor smoke bombs at the top of the crater,” the Vesuvius Park Authority said in a press release.

She added that she “considers this initiative dangerous and impractical because it will take place in the heart of the park.”

It continued by saying that such ceremonies are likely to cause “damage to people and things and, in particular, to the flora and fauna of the Vesuvius National Park, as well as to the structures and technological systems present therein”.

Park Authority Commissioner Raffaele De Luca said: “We are all happy with the victory of Naples, which honors the territory and will bring great joy among the citizens, but the celebrations must be limited to what the rules of civilized life allow. The crater of Vesuvius is a fragile and dangerous place at its core.”

The press release said the municipalities of the Vesuvius police and the military police, the Carabinieri, would provide a “massive garrison” to protect the entrances.