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13 United fans hospitalised in Rome stadium violence
ROME (AFP) - Thirteen Manchester United fans were hospitalised, one with a stab wound to the neck, after violence erupted before and during their Champions League clash with AS Roma, officials said Thursday.
European football's governing body, UEFA, said it had opened an investigation into the crowd trouble, which left some 18 people injured after United fans clashed with baton-wielding riot police.
A decision on whether to press full disciplinary charges is likely to be taken after the Easter break, on Tuesday, said a UEFA spokesman in Geneva. "We're still waiting for the match reports from officials," he said.
A spokeswoman for the British embassy in Rome told AFP that 13 British fans had been treated in hospital for a variety of injuries, "none life-threatening". Two stayed overnight, of whom one needed surgery, and "one is still in hospital," she said.
United and AS Roma fans were involved in running battles outside the Rome Olympic Stadium before Wednesday's game and riot police baton-charged United fans on the terraces when fresh disturbances erupted during the quarter-final match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Italian side.
Shocking television images showed one English supporter with blood pouring from a head wound as he was carried away by other fans. One English fan was stabbed in the back of the neck.
"Too much beer" despite a ban on sales of alcohol was probably partly to blame for the clashes, the daily Gazzetto dello Sport said Thursday.
Rome police chief Achille Serra had ordered that no alcohol be sold to fans in the Italian capital from midday Wednesday until 3:00 am on Thursday.
"Despite the order ... beer and strong drinks could be bought without a problem," wrote the Rome daily Il Messaggero. "Three bar trucks were freely handing out drinks even a few metres (yards) from the stadium," it said.
Manchester United had warned its travelling supporters to be wary of certain parts of the Italian capital because of the risk of trouble from Roma followers.
Riot police quelled fights between rival fans as they made their way to the key match as well as more troubles inside.
Italian media said around 300 English fans, many of whom were inebriated, were involved in the street fights.
Inside the stadium, Roma supporters ran towards the fencing separating them from United counterparts and pelted them with plastic drink bottles, many of them full.
United fans launched similar tactics and police baton-charged the United supporters.
UEFA's new president, Michel Platini, has vowed "zero tolerance" for violence on and off the field, and recently wrote to top clubs and all federations in Europe to underline his stance.
One of Platini's senior advisors, William Gaillard, who was in Rome on Wednesday evening, noted the presence of many United fans without tickets, while Italian police escorted ticketed United fans into the Olympic stadium.
"Everything was done logistically for the ones that were the 'official' fans, to bring them in in the safest possible way and to bring them out in the safest possible way," Gaillard told AFP.
"It's quite possible that fans had access to alcohol not far from the stadium, but this still has to be determined," he added.
"There are always hawkers at football matches in Italy who sell things like that. It's one thing for the Italian fans because they don't drink, but of course with English fans it's another issue," he added.
Manchester United has already been fined by UEFA this year for the behaviour of travelling fans following incidents that marred their Champions League tie against Lille in February, when French riot police used tear gas during the match.
Lille -- which was also fined for security violations and incorrect behaviour by players -- had complained about ticketing problems with United supporters.
The troubles in Rome came only a day after the Italian parliament passed new laws in a bid to stamp out mounting football hooliganism in recent months.
Strict new security measures were introduced shortly after a policeman was killed when Catania fans went on the rampage during their derby match against Sicilian rivals Palermo in February.
The authorities briefly closed some Italian stadiums after the death while security measures were improved.
The government clampdown demanded that clubs take more responsibility for security, including more closed-circuit television cameras at stadiums, named tickets, electronic turnstiles, adequate stewarding, and crowd-filtering areas outside grounds.
Any fan carrying a banner that incites violence or contains offensive language faces arrest.
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