Venice fines parents after children play football in public square
14 youths, ages 10–13, were playing in Campo Pino Signoretto on Murano; each parent fined €50 under city rules targeting ball games in public spaces.
The authorities in Venice have fined the parents of 14 children for playing football in a public square on the island of Murano. The youths, aged 10 to 13, were in Campo Pino Signoretto when several residents complained about noise and disruption, prompting local police to intervene. Each parent was issued a €50 fine for disturbing the peace and for allowing ball games in an area where such activity is prohibited under city regulations.
A week after the incident, police summoned the parents to the local station to formalize the fines, which are framed as enforceable under a 2019 rule that bans ball games and other activities that could cause danger, damage or annoyance in public spaces. The city has reiterated that ball games are generally not allowed in most public areas, with only a single exception on Murano in San Bernardo square. The case has drawn attention because Campo Pino Signoretto was not listed among the areas previously banned, according to residents and officials.
Reaction to the fines has been mixed. Critics say the enforcement appears heavy-handed for what officials describe as a minor public nuisance. City councillor Marco Gasparinetti argued that rules should be applied with common sense and noted that the penalties could encourage worse behavior by turning attention away from more pressing issues such as pickpocketing and crime. A local father, Antonio Trampus, said his son called him in tears after the police visit and that officers could have contacted parents to address the issue instead of recording their names and addresses.
The €50 fines could rise to as much as €500 if they remain unpaid after 60 days. The father vowed to contest the charge and to raise the matter with Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, arguing that the city should balance safety with opportunities for children to be active. Retired Venice-born footballer Paolo Poggi urged officials to consider the well-being and physical development of children, suggesting that rules be adjusted in light of common sense while still respecting public safety.
Regulations introduced in 2019 ban ball games in areas across the city. On Murano, there is only one square where ball games are permitted — San Bernardo square — while Campo Pino Signoretto was not listed as a banned area, according to residents. The dispute has reignited a debate about how to balance public safety and public spaces for recreation, with supporters of more flexible rules arguing that well-being and physical activity should be prioritized for children.