Italy is hailing an unprecedented example of soccer supporters joining together not to commit violence but to expel a troublemaker from their midst.
During Sunday's match between Juventus and Udinese in Turin, a Juve fan hurled a smoke bomb onto the pitch to protest a refereeing decision.
The fans near him, young and old, pointed him out to the stewards that now patrol Italy's stands. He was promptly apprehended and handed over to the police.
On Tuesday the fan received a one-year suspended jail term and a three-year stadium ban.
Commentators in Italian dailies praised this "first instance of fan justice" while the president of the Italian soccer federation, Giancarlo Abete, called the episode "highly significant".
The throwing of smoke bombs has plagued Italian soccer over the years, with policemen, fans and even players being hurt.
At least two fans have been killed by the dangerous fireworks, which are sometimes shot out of guns like mortars.
"Great satisfaction" with Sunday's fan response was voiced by Michele Colombatto, the man in charge of the 400 security stewards drafted in to get a better grip on crowd control after a policeman was killed in a Sicilian riot in February.
"This could be a watershed," Colobatto said, praising the steward who grabbed the 27-year-old hooligan as "an example of our professional methods".
When the stewards were enlisted following the death of police inspector Filippo Raciti during scuffles by Catania fans, fears were expressed that they might not be energetic enough in the face of hardened hooligans.
"On the contrary," Colobatto said, "this incident shows how we are able to cope with hooliganism, swiftly and without fuss".
While praising the actions of the "law-abiding" fans, some commentators however voiced fears that there could be reprisals.
"This praiseworthy incident could lead to a backlash from the ultras," said the Rome daily La Repubblica.
"The well-behaved fans, unfortunately, are not organised. The hooligans always are".
