Police in Venice have fined the parents of 14 children who were playing football in a public square on the island of Murano, sparking debate over the rights of young people to play outdoors. The children, aged between 12 and 13, were playing in Pino Signoretto square earlier this month when a resident reported them for noise.
Officers identified each child and ordered their parents to pay a €50 (£43) fine for playing in a prohibited area, “creating a disturbance to the public peace and a danger for people in transit”. Antonio Trampus, father of one of the children, said his son called him in tears. “They could have called us parents and asked us to take our children home. Instead, they immediately took their names and addresses.” He said the group plans to appeal and take the matter to the mayor.
The fines are based on 2019 regulations banning ball games in certain areas of Venice. In Murano, the only square where games are permitted is San Bernardo, but parents argue that Pino Signoretto square was never listed as banned because it was recently created after redevelopment. Trampus said San Bernardo is not suitable and removing children from the new square would leave it in a poor state.
The case has drawn criticism. Local councillor Marco Gasparinetti called the police intervention disproportionate, questioning priorities in a city dealing with overtourism and pickpockets. “Were they scammers? Pickpockets? Drug dealers? No, they were the parents of [14] children.” He added that taking the ball away would have been more educational. Retired Venetian footballer Paolo Poggi also weighed in, saying “common sense is needed” and that children’s play experience must be preserved.
