Black Widow
05-27-2009, 06:42 PM
A MANCHESTER United fan has been stabbed ahead of tonight's Champions League final, say reports.
The 54-year-old supporter was attacked near his hotel in the Italian capital by up to four suspects in the early hours of this morning.
It was said the man received stab wounds to the left leg.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police in Rome said: "I can confirm that we have received reports of a stabbing in Rome.
"We have no details yet of the incident but we are making full inquiries."
It is understood the male victim discharged himself from hospital after his condition was not deemed as serious.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We have been receiving reports of an incident and are looking into it."
In Rome, British Embassy spokesman Pierluigi Puglia added: "We know that a British man was stabbed in the left leg overnight and was later released from hospital.
"We have spoken to two of his friends who contacted us but we are still trying to trace the man himself to check he is well.
"I do not believe any arrests were made in connection with this incident and we have no reported arrests elsewhere."
Italian football clubs, especially in Rome, have a number of notorious hooligan gangs known as Ultras who it is feared may target travelling fans.
Man United supporters were caught up in violence both in and outside the Stadio Olimpico in April 2007 during the team's defeat to AS Roma in a Champions League quarter-final tie.
Eighteen supporters needed hospital treatment following a number of clashes, including a charge by baton-wielding riot police in the United section of the stadium.
Television pictures showed one dazed fan with blood pouring from his face with others trying to help him back to his feet.
The match took place against a backdrop of poor relations between the two clubs after United bosses anticipated problems and issued a statement on their website warning their fans to be careful.
In March, an Arsenal supporter was stabbed in the leg as he came out of a bus ahead of a Champions League clash with AS Roma.
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Three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and ten others were hurt during fights with Roma fans at the Uefa Cup quarter-finals in 2006, while a number of Liverpool supporters were injured in knife attacks in the Italian capital in another Uefa Cup game in 2001.
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Don Foster said: "The Italian authorities must do everything in their power to protect travelling fans from further violent incidents.
"Concerns were raised before the final about the sheer number of stabbings and attacks that football fans have endured in Rome over recent years.
"Ministers and Uefa must explain what steps they have taken to try and ensure the safety of travelling fans."
Mr Foster wrote to Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe earlier this year to raise his concerns about the levels of violence that British fans have suffered when visiting Rome.
The Sun
The 54-year-old supporter was attacked near his hotel in the Italian capital by up to four suspects in the early hours of this morning.
It was said the man received stab wounds to the left leg.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police in Rome said: "I can confirm that we have received reports of a stabbing in Rome.
"We have no details yet of the incident but we are making full inquiries."
It is understood the male victim discharged himself from hospital after his condition was not deemed as serious.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We have been receiving reports of an incident and are looking into it."
In Rome, British Embassy spokesman Pierluigi Puglia added: "We know that a British man was stabbed in the left leg overnight and was later released from hospital.
"We have spoken to two of his friends who contacted us but we are still trying to trace the man himself to check he is well.
"I do not believe any arrests were made in connection with this incident and we have no reported arrests elsewhere."
Italian football clubs, especially in Rome, have a number of notorious hooligan gangs known as Ultras who it is feared may target travelling fans.
Man United supporters were caught up in violence both in and outside the Stadio Olimpico in April 2007 during the team's defeat to AS Roma in a Champions League quarter-final tie.
Eighteen supporters needed hospital treatment following a number of clashes, including a charge by baton-wielding riot police in the United section of the stadium.
Television pictures showed one dazed fan with blood pouring from his face with others trying to help him back to his feet.
The match took place against a backdrop of poor relations between the two clubs after United bosses anticipated problems and issued a statement on their website warning their fans to be careful.
In March, an Arsenal supporter was stabbed in the leg as he came out of a bus ahead of a Champions League clash with AS Roma.
Advertisement
Three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and ten others were hurt during fights with Roma fans at the Uefa Cup quarter-finals in 2006, while a number of Liverpool supporters were injured in knife attacks in the Italian capital in another Uefa Cup game in 2001.
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Don Foster said: "The Italian authorities must do everything in their power to protect travelling fans from further violent incidents.
"Concerns were raised before the final about the sheer number of stabbings and attacks that football fans have endured in Rome over recent years.
"Ministers and Uefa must explain what steps they have taken to try and ensure the safety of travelling fans."
Mr Foster wrote to Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe earlier this year to raise his concerns about the levels of violence that British fans have suffered when visiting Rome.
The Sun