Italy have indefinitely banned their supporters from away games in response to the violence that took place in the stands during their goalless draw against Bulgaria in Sofia on Saturday.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has refused its allocation of tickets for away fixtures after a section of its side's support threw bottles at the home fans, made fascist salutes and chanted fascist slogans during the World Cup qualifier. Three Italian fans were detained by police after burning a Bulgarian flag.

Giancarlo Abete, the FIGC president, has condemned those involved and, although the ruling body cannot prevent fans from travelling to away fixtures, he said it will aim to prevent them from entering stadiums.

"Until we have certainties and we are able to verify certain things, we will not ask for any tickets for Italy's away games," he said. "I feel great bitterness and pain for what has happened. The process to isolate these individuals is long but this is a dark episode.

"With the technological means available we can identify those individuals. I don't believe they are fans but individuals who are prone to delinquent behaviour with the intention of damaging the image of our nation. But we have all their names and we will punish them."

The incidents happened only a month after the Italian Government announced measures to stamp out hooliganism that has plagued Italian football in recent seasons.

Italy, the World Cup holders, play Montenegro in Lecce on Wednesday in their next qualifier. Their next away game is in Montenegro on March 23 of next year. They play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin the following October.

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