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Four Italians freed after ManUtd, AS Roma clashes
LONDON (AFP) - Four Italian men charged after clashes with police marred Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final victory over AS Roma, walked free from court Wednesday.
Magistrates in Manchester handed conditional discharges to two of the men. A third was bound over to be of good behaviour while the fourth pleaded not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.
He was bailed to return to trial in the north-west English city on June 28.
Twelve English fans were also charged after violence flared briefly between up to 100 rival fans outside the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester before Tuesday evening's game, which United won 7-1.
They are due to appear in court next Wednesday.
Police with dogs and batons arrested a total of 21 people on the night.
The 16 taken to court were charged with offences including possession of a bladed weapon, criminal damage and public order offences, a spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police told AFP.
At last week's clash in Rome, which Roma won 2-1, several United fans needed hospital treatment after being stabbed before the match, while Italian police baton-charged the visiting supporters during the first half.
United's dazzling second leg victory swept them through to the Champions League semi-finals.
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