Mancini suggests early end to season

Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini believes the Italian season should end now if clubs have to continue playing behind closed doors.

Four matches were played at empty grounds at the weekend after government regulations - implemented following the death of a policeman during trouble between Catania and Palermo supporters - meant the stadia did not match new safety requirements.

Mancini, whose team leads Serie A, said: "This is not football. We might as well quit right here and start again in September. My words are clearly a provocation, but to play without fans makes no sense.

"We should do as they do in Formula One - when the conditions to continue are no longer favourable, they stop and the one who is leading wins.

"What happened in Catania was very serious and no family should lose a father in such an absurd situation.

"But let's not forget that in Italy nothing has been done, we always delay our reaction. Our stadia are old and let's not talk about the state of the pitch. Like this, it's impossible to attract people to the stadia."

Mancini also warned his players not to become complacent after they equalled Bayern Munich and Real Madrid's European record for consecutive league wins.

Inter secured their 15th successive victory after beating Chievo 2-0 thanks to goals by Adriano and Hernan Crespo.

But Mancini added: "It's great, but this hasn't yet given us a title. Fantastic things are not remembered by consecutive victories but by the trophies they bring home at the end."