[Dirtycheat]

United fear more violence in Roma clash

Originally Posted by the telegraph

United are due to face Roma on Dec 12 - eight months after the club's fans were involved in ugly clashes with Italian police during the Champions League quarter-final first leg against the Serie A outfit.
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But with Gabriele Sandri shot dead by Italian police on Sunday, United will seek talks with the Foreign Office in an effort to avoid the problems that marred two previous meetings with Roma. United fans clashed with Roma supporters and police in April, and again during the return leg at Old Trafford.

A United spokesman said: "We're aware of the situation and will look to monitor events over the coming weeks. We will also take advice from the Foreign Office, Uefa and Italian authorities."

The Italian Government is now considering banning football matches for several weeks to allow the situation to calm down. This weekend's matches in Serie B and Serie C have already been postponed. There were no Serie A games scheduled this weekend, with Italy due to face Scotland in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Glasgow on Saturday.

Giancarlo Abete, president of the country's football federation, has not ruled out the possibility of the postponements continuing after the international break. "We don't intend to restart all tournaments from Sunday 25," he said.

"We will have to study, with the Serie A clubs, certain initiatives to be put in place by the 25th - a reflection of the values of football, like a categorical no to any form of violence."

Italian authorities also ruled yesterday that all away fans will be banned indefinitely from travelling to matches.

United, meanwhile, have already decided to refund their fans who choose not to travel to the Italian capital for the Dec 12 match. Tickets must be returned by Dec 1.

With United having already booked their place in the knockout stages, manager Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to field a weakened team for the final Group F clash.

The latest measures and ongoing uncertainty follows running street battles in Italy between police and 'ultras'. More than 40 police officers were wounded.

Three ultras were arrested after police buses and cars were set on fire. The fans were protesting after a policeman shot dead Sandri, a 25-year-old Lazio supporter who was travelling to a match against Inter Milan.

Mr Sandri was hit in the neck on Sunday by a stray shot from a policeman as he slept in his car. Yesterday it emerged that the officer, known only as Luigi S, would face manslaughter charges.

He told the public prosecutor that he had "not targeted anyone" but that his gun had gone off while he was running.

im worried of a re-occurance of what happened last year. I really cant trust police to keep calm, or the fans to be mature after what happened a few days ago. i believe this game should be played elsewhere, its nothing short of a warzone.

here is a few pics from the violence over the weekend.

[GocartMozart]

incredible pictures, really quality.

For some reason I have a feeling everything will be different this time around. There have been just so many problems of late, that I can't imagine that they would screw up once more. Enough is enough already. Time to buckle down and get through a week without a major headline.

[Dirtycheat]

United play safety first overreturn to riot city

Originally Posted by Daily Mail

Manchester United have sent fans an instruction manual on how to avoid trouble in Italy when they face Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday week.

Supporters are warned they risk being ambushed if they walk to the Olympic Stadium or travel on the underground. They are also told to expect to be held in the ground for more than an hour after the whistle to avoid clashes with Roma 'Ultras'.

United's initiative follows disturbing scenes at last season's Champions League game between Roma and United. Baton-wielding police were criticised for heavy-handed behaviour towards visiting fans and both clubs were fined after supporters threw missiles at each other.

Since then, violence in Italian football has become a serious issue. The recent shooting by police of a Lazio fan led to rioting across the country, including near the Olympic Stadium.

Some 2,000 United fans are expected to make the trip. There would have been more, but United have already qualified for the knockout stages.
+

this game is somewhat pointless, we have nothing to gain from this match - we are already top. Personally i think united fans should avoid that unless they dont mind getting into another fight with gay, cowardly men in riot uniforms.

[funkdoctorspock]

United announced that they'll have 1200 travelling fans to watch United play Roma at Stadio Olimpico on December 12th.

I hope they are careful and are kept safe.

UNITED have confirmed they expect 1200 fans to accompany them to Italy for their Champions League tie with Roma on December 12.

The Reds' last visit to the Stadio Olimpico, for last season's quarter-final, was marred by violence.

Visiting supporters were attacked outside the stadium and inside riot police waded in to quell trouble, while doing little to prevent missiles being thrown out of the home section into the area reserved for United supporters.

In the aftermath of the recent fatal shooting of a Lazio fan by police at a motorway service station, Old Trafford officials confirmed any supporter who had confirmed their intention to travel but no longer wished to do so, could cancel.

Around 200 United followers have backed out, although this number is only in line with usual European away games and is not seen any kind of reaction to the more recent problems affecting Serie A.

It means Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be backed by around 1200 fans, roughly half the allocation Roma had offered, for what is essentially a meaningless game with United confirmed as Group F winners and the Italian outfit runners-up.

Officials from both clubs will hope their respective positions will dampen the potential for trouble.
Click

[GocartMozart]

what worries me is those 1200 fans. the lot that is sitting at home, isn't afraid of the potential roman fans, is a group that is just as likely to cause trouble. The problem with these fan groups is when you have them face each other. They better have the horses out for good measure.

on the flip side, both teams are into the next round, so the fans might not have all that much to act like fools over.

[Dirtycheat]

Man United fans stabbed in Rome

source: BBC NEWS

Three Manchester United fans have been stabbed in Rome ahead of the club's Champions League tie in the city, according to reports.

A Foreign Office spokesman said trouble flared between rival supporters outside the stadium. Two British nationals had been arrested.

Consular officials were checking on the extent of injuries at a hospital.

The last time the two teams met in April, 11 fans were taken to hospital after violence in the stadium.


The situation is now said to be calm both outside and inside the stadium
Foreign Office spokesman

Reports in Italy said three Manchester United supporters had been stabbed but they were not thought to have been seriously hurt.

The Foreign Office spokesman could not confirm how many had been injured but said the situation outside and inside the Stadio Olimpico was now "calm."

He said: "It appears there was trouble outside the stadium.

"A number of British fans were injured and two British nationals have been arrested.

"Our consular officials are on the way to the hospital to check on conditions, the numbers involved and whether anyone needs assistance.

"The situation is now said to be calm both outside and inside the stadium."

i honestly cant say im surprised, i hope the match isnt too controversial because these ultras are very "passionate"

its early days to say who started it but after last year and the recent violence in italian football, i wouldn't be too surprised if it was the ultras again.

3 fans stabbed is disgraceful though. This is a sport not a war. Football fans, especially in italy, need to learn a lesson from rugby fans. Rival rugby fans can sit side by side in the majority of matches and not one incident will break out between them.


edit: posted up some pics of the riot police and fans
http://unitedzone.info/forum/picture....html#post4274

[GocartMozart]

ESPNsoccernet - UEFA Champions League - Seven Man Utd fans taken to hospital in Rome

Seven Man Utd fans taken to hospital in Rome

Seven Manchester United supporters were taken to hospital tonight after violence flared before the Champions' League clash with Roma in Italy.


British Embassy officials in Rome said five fans received stab wounds while two others, including a 16-year-old boy, needed treatment for being drunk.

None of the stab victims is understood to have serious injuries following the clash between the rival fans outside the Stadio Olympico. Most are expected to be released by the end of the night, said an embassy spokeswoman.

Earlier the Foreign Office said two British nationals were arrested but embassy staff said they could not confirm if anyone had been detained.

Italian media have reported that six British nationals were arrested by police.

The embassy spokeswoman said: 'Seven Manchester United supporters were taken to hospital after fighting broke out on the Pont Duca d'Aosta bridge which fans cross over the river to get to the stadium.

'Five are receiving treatment for stab wounds while two others, one who was a 16-year-old boy, were understood to be drunk.

'Their injuries are not thought to be serious and most of them will be discharged in the next couple of hours. One person may be kept in overnight for observation.

'The situation in the stadium is now fine and everything is running smoothly.'

She added she could not confirm if any Britons had been arrested.

The embassy had warned travelling fans beforehand not to use the Pont Duca d'Aosta bridge because it was habitually used by Roma's notorious Ultras - a following of hardcore fans.

Scenes of violence and disorder marred the two clubs' Champions League games last season, although this season's group match in Manchester in October passed off peacefully.

Eighteen United fans needed hospital treatment in April after clashes on the terraces in Rome and outside the ground.

Italian police were accused by United club officials of handing out 'indiscriminate beatings' as they charged United supporters with batons.

Violence flared again a week later at the return leg at Old Trafford when scuffles broke out outside the ground.

A volley of missiles was thrown at Roma supporters as they entered the away end turnstiles and 21 people, including 14 United fans, were arrested.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had hoped tonight's game would pass off peacefully but the British Embassy in Rome had warned supporters faced a 'real danger of attack' by the Ultras.

The 1,200 British supporters who made the journey were largely shepherded into the stadium two hours before kick-off, with clear segregation in place in the less than capacity crowd.

Greater Manchester Police officers travelled to Rome and before the game warned hooligans not to attend.

They liaised with their colleagues in Italy to identify any known or potential troublemakers.

count is up to 5...wonderful

[moley]

Roma should have to play there matches at nutral grounds in another country without fans or just be banned for a few years there fans are a disgrace.

[macca247]

totally agree with you but its all talk theses days and not enough action

[funkdoctorspock]

Police chief previously caught up in Rome violence calls for Roma ban after United fans stabbed | the Daily Mail

Police chief Dave McLuckie has called for Roma to be thrown out of European football after more trouble marred their Champions League clash with Manchester United last night.

Five United fans were stabbed in fighting before the final group game between the two sides in Italy as a further depressing chapter was added to the the history of violence involving the Rome club.

Eighteen travelling United supporters needed hospital treatment in April after clashes on the terraces outside the city's Stadio Olimpico Stadium, while three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and many others injured as trouble flared the night before their UEFA Cup clash with Roma in March last year.

Councillor McLuckie, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, was among those caught up in the violence that night and is an outspoken critic of the way the Roman authorities have dealt with football hooliganism.

The Stadio Olimpico is due to host the final of the Champions League in 2009 and, in the wake of the latest incidents, Mr McLuckie believes the time has now come for UEFA to act.

Mr McLuckie said: "Roma should be banned from these competitions. They should not be allowed to enter from the start because the authorities are not able to look after the people who come to their city to watch football.

"They should just be banned from European football. They should not be involved in the Champions League or the UEFA Cup, and that should be the case until they clean up their act."

English clubs suffered just that fate in the wake of the Heysel tragedy, and Mr McLuckie believes the way British police have subsequently dealt with football hooliganism could be of use to the Italian authorities.

He said: "We are the experts, sadly, because we needed to be.

"We have a real grip on this kind of thing and I know the British police would be happy to give the Italian authorities and help they require in tackling this issue.

"At the end of the day, the authorities in Rome have failed to keep control of these fans time after time after time, and the Italian authorities as a whole must get in there.

"Here in this country, we do raids on known hooligans before away matches and before big international matches and we stop those individuals travelling.

"They must be more proactive in the way they deal with football hooliganism. When people travel to Rome, they don't expect to be attacked and they certainly don't expect to be stabbed, but this is becoming the norm.

"I wouldn't go back there. I love football and I have travelled all over to watch it, but I wouldn't go back to the place.

"The very least you are going to get is a beating - and to try to stem the some of the problems, the authorities take the away fans and treat them worse than animals."

Much of the trouble in Rome has been laid firmly at the feet of the club's notorious Ultras.

However, Mr McLuckie admits that, whoever is responsible, it is only by chance that a British fan has not been killed in the city and has called on the Italian Government to step in.

He said: "I am absolutely astounded that so far, no-one is dead - but it will not be long before it happens.

"A few weeks ago when the police officer accidentally shot a fan, they rioted in the streets as if they were saying, 'We will do what we want and how dare you try to stop us and kill one of us?'

"Until the authorities make a real crackdown on the people responsible instead of allowing them to riot in the streets as they did a short few weeks ago and take control of their city, this is going to happen time and time again.

"It is not the Rome authorities who need to do this now, it is the Italian authorities from the very top who need to address this situation now."

something has to be done about football violence in Italy. Its not just Roma. Why hasn't the government or uefa for that matter stepped in?

Clubs aren't going to really push for change unless the higher ups give them a lil push.