ROME, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Italian prime minister Romano Prodi on Friday called for radical surgery on the country's football in a bid to stop the violence which led to the death of a policeman at a Serie A game.

    A 38-year-old officer died when he was hit in the face by an explosive device thrown from the crowd in the Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo.

    Around 100 people were injured as fighting continued after the game which was won by Palermo 2-1.

    "My first thoughts are for the people affected by the violence and their families," said Prodi who backed the decision by the Italian football authorities to call off this weekend's scheduled matches.

    "It is the right signal and is necessary to avoid the degeneration of the sport," he noted.