United fans´ club calls for calm

AFP - 9 April 2007 17:12

A Manchester United fan is hurt after being hit on the head by Italian riot policemen during their Champions League quarter-final, first leg, football match in Rome, 04 April 2007. Manchester United fans´ groups have called for calm during Tuesday night´s Champions League quarter-final return leg tie against AS Roma at Old Trafford.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Manchester United fans' groups have called for calm during Tuesday night's Champions League quarter-final return leg tie against AS Roma at Old Trafford.

There have been fears of reprisals after United fans suffered attacks outside the Stadio Olimpico and were then baton-charged by riot police during the first leg in Rome, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Italian side.

But the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMUSA) are anxious the game should not provide an excuse for the Italian authorities to prove their strong-arm tactics were justified.

"We all need to make sure that there are no headlines in Manchester to wipe out the memory of those made by the Italian police last week in Rome," said IMUSA in a statement.

"The Roma fans at Old Trafford on Tuesday will be just like most of our fans who went to Rome last week and will be there only to watch the football."