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English fans are stabbed in Rome
Three Middlesbrough fans have been stabbed ahead of the club's Uefa Cup clash against AS Roma in the Italian capital, police have confirmed.
Cleveland Police said the attack came from an "organised gang of Italian thugs" who targeted two bars where the English fans were drinking.
The violence happened late on Tuesday as about 200 English fans gathered in Rome's central Campo de Fiori area.
British Embassy officials said in all 15 UK fans required hospital treatment.
A 39-year-old man who was with his 11-year-old son, underwent surgery in Rome overnight and he remains in hospital for observation. An 18-year-old was also treated in hospital and was expected to be released on Wednesday.
Lighted flare
A spokesman for the British Embassy in Rome said five Italians were being held by the Italian police.
Italian officers with batons were brought in to break up the violence.
A spokesman for Cleveland Police, who have officers with Boro fans in Italy, said at one point a lighted flare was thrown into a bar where Middlesbrough fans, some in family groups, were drinking.
He said most English fans fled for safety, but some retaliated and tables and chairs were thrown as the violence worsened.
The spokesman said the injured supporters were aged between 16 and 55.
Cleveland Police officers toured hospital accident and emergency wards overnight to check no other supporters were injured.
'Medical treatment'
It is thought a group of extremist Roma fans, known as Ultras, were involved. Reports said they were led by a man wielding an axe and wore scarves.
The club's chief executive Keith Lamb said: "Some Boro fans were drinking in a bar and were attacked by some Roma fans.
"A number of Boro fans have been injured - a small number - and taken to hospital and received medical treatment. "
Cleveland Police appealed for calm in the run up to the second leg of the cup tie, in which Boro lead 1-0.
Last year a Middlesbrough fan died after being stabbed outside a bar in Amsterdam, after travelling to watch his team in the Uefa Cup.
Brendan O'Connor, 36, of London, had joined friends to travel to Holland where his team were playing Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in November.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/4808246.stm
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man... i'de like to think it was a small minority but italians are absolute filth.
Three Middlesbrough fans have been stabbed ahead of the club's Uefa Cup clash against AS Roma in the Italian capital, police have confirmed.
Cleveland Police said the attack came from an "organised gang of Italian thugs" who targeted two bars where the English fans were drinking.
The violence happened late on Tuesday as about 200 English fans gathered in Rome's central Campo de Fiori area.
British Embassy officials said in all 15 UK fans required hospital treatment.
A 39-year-old man who was with his 11-year-old son, underwent surgery in Rome overnight and he remains in hospital for observation. An 18-year-old was also treated in hospital and was expected to be released on Wednesday.
Lighted flare
A spokesman for the British Embassy in Rome said five Italians were being held by the Italian police.
Italian officers with batons were brought in to break up the violence.
A spokesman for Cleveland Police, who have officers with Boro fans in Italy, said at one point a lighted flare was thrown into a bar where Middlesbrough fans, some in family groups, were drinking.
He said most English fans fled for safety, but some retaliated and tables and chairs were thrown as the violence worsened.
The spokesman said the injured supporters were aged between 16 and 55.
Cleveland Police officers toured hospital accident and emergency wards overnight to check no other supporters were injured.
'Medical treatment'
It is thought a group of extremist Roma fans, known as Ultras, were involved. Reports said they were led by a man wielding an axe and wore scarves.
The club's chief executive Keith Lamb said: "Some Boro fans were drinking in a bar and were attacked by some Roma fans.
"A number of Boro fans have been injured - a small number - and taken to hospital and received medical treatment. "
Cleveland Police appealed for calm in the run up to the second leg of the cup tie, in which Boro lead 1-0.
Last year a Middlesbrough fan died after being stabbed outside a bar in Amsterdam, after travelling to watch his team in the Uefa Cup.
Brendan O'Connor, 36, of London, had joined friends to travel to Holland where his team were playing Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in November.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/4808246.stm
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man... i'de like to think it was a small minority but italians are absolute filth.
