Updated 15.40
A GROUP OF Tottenham Hotspur supporters were injured after suspected hardline fans of Lazio attacked a pub in Rome last night, reports said.
Lazio host Spurs in the Europa League this with England icon Paul Gascoigne, a former star of both clubs, among those invited to attend.
But any festivities are set to be overshadowed by the incident, which has done little to improve Rome’s reputation as one of the most dangerous cities for visiting fans from England.
Liverpool supporters were stabbed after a European Cup final win against AS Roma in 1984. Fans from Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Manchester United have since been attacked by hardcore “ultras” from Rome’s two Serie A clubs AS Roma and Lazio.
One of those injured had to attend hospital after the latest attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning when a group of Italians wearing masks attacked the premises, according to witnesses quoted by the ANSA news agency.
The Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said the injured supporter had suffered a stab wound. He had been among a group of 10 fans which included nine English and one US national.
Gazzetta quoted the owner of the Drunken Ship pub, Marco Manzi, as saying: “Everything looked planned, they were extremely organised. They blocked the second exit and were even armed with tear gas.
“They managed to isolate the English and started hitting them with bars, chairs and tables.”
The report added that seven of those attacked were taken to hospitals across the city, but that only one — who had been stabbed — was kept in due to the seriousness of his injuries.
Lazio president Claudio Lotito condemned the attacks but said he would make no further comment until the facts had been established.
“These kinds of acts must always be condemned but from the information we currently have it is not clear this assault is the work of Lazio fans,” the report quoted him as saying.
An official with the city’s tourist board which is officially tied to the mayor’s office, Antonio Gazzellone, said he hoped the authorities would deal with those responsible.
“It is an act of unprecedented severity that has nothing to do with tourism or sport,” said Gazzellone. “We’re talking about an organised group of savages who used the game as a vehicle for its own violent nature.
“Rome is a welcoming city and sport should be about bringing people together. I’m sure competent authorities will act quickly to identify the culprits and punish them.”
Gazzetta added that after Thursday’s attack the assailants fled through the streets of Rome disposing of iron bars, knives and other weapons.
One reportedly jumped on a bus and was seen boasting of the assault, upon which he was photographed by the startled bus driver.
Police have reportedly caught and detained six of the estimated 40 assailants, who are believed to be between the ages of 20 and 45..
