Eurosport - Thu, 12 Mar 14:12:00 2009
An Arsenal fan was stabbed in the leg and two others were injured in incidents before Wednesday's Champions League match in Rome.
The stab victim was attacked after Roma fans boarded a bus taking Arsenal supporters to the Stadio Olimpico, a club spokeswoman said, adding that the victim was not in a life-threatening condition.
The others suffered head injuries in incidents outside the ground.
"Arsenal Football Club and the Metropolitan Police deplore the incident as the safety of our supporters is the highest priority," a statement said.
Violence has marred several Roma matches in Europe in recent years, most prominently in two games against English club Manchester United in 2007.
Arsenal reached the quarter-finals of the competition with a 7-6 penalty shoot-out win on Wednesday after a 1-0 defeat on the night left the score level on aggregate.
The incident is sure to call into question Rome's suitability to host the Champions League final, which will be played at the Stadio Olimpico on May 27.
It may come as a relief to UEFA that Roma were eliminated and there are no Italian sides remaining in the competition.
The stadium hosted the 1990 World Cup final, and is one of 28 stadia given a five-star rating by UEFA which makes it eligible to host the Champions League final
A British embassy spokeman said a group of home fans targeted the vehicle and attempted to force their way inside.
"One managed to get on to the bus and there was a fight," he said.
"The driver managed to get away when the Roma fan was pushed out of the bus."
The victim was able to watch the match after receiving medical care.
He added: "We don't know if it was a stabbing or glass from a smashed window."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the incident that happened in Italy and we are providing consular assistance."
Comment 66 - 85 of 85
#83 What a moron.
Ok, so moving the final to Wembley will please english hearts, ha dream on
I think the final should still be in Rome, big deal a fan was stabbed, probably the fan was drunk and was seeking for trouble. Yeah more Man U and Arsenal fans should be.......well u know the rest
I think it is high time UEFA have to Ban Roma for pertaking in the CL,it will the the 3rd concecutive time when an English Fan will be brutally Treated in wuch a way,it happen far back in 2007 with Man Utd and this time now Arsenal,The CL Final should be move to another country for the savely of English Fan wo i believe will be the 2 Finalist this year.UEFA please do something now.Mourinho should also be banned for punching a Fan outside Old Trafford.and that will be a leason for other who Terrorise in Foothball.
sorry for the double post,
kept getting invalid comment.
Irish fan here so not biased towards or against English football.
Here's a simple solution that would eliminate the issue very quickly.
1. Take the final away from Rome NOW, IMMEDIATLEY, without hesitation. Cite the hooliganism specifically as the one and only reason. Blame the violence. (Send a message loud and clear that even thugs can understand. There plenty of other countries that would love to host the final. Ten weeks is plenty of time for security planning (it’s done all the time anyway)
Or move the Final to Old Trafford or Wembley or The Emirates Stadium. The English Authorities host European games a couple of times a week every couple of weeks, incident free!!! That safety excuse from UEFA is complete and utter LIES)
2. The next time any team hosts a euro game and there is serious crowd problems inside or outside the ground, ban every team from that country having any fan at any euro game home or away for one full year. Home games behind closed doors, away games, no travelling fans allowed.
Sound harsh? Not to English clubs. At least no club is kicked out of the competition like the English in the eighties. And it's only for one year, not five like the English in the eighties.
Platini can't possibly possess the sufficient objectivity to make this decision. He could be biased against English Clubs because he was actually on the pitch in Heysel playing for Juve. He should be excused from any part of deciding this matter as he can't possibly be impartial. No court would allow such a potential conflict of interest or impartiality
2. The next time any team hosts a euro game and there is serious crowd problems inside or outside the ground, ban every team from that country having any fan at any euro game home or away for one full year. Home games behind closed doors, away games, no travelling fans allowed.
Sound harsh? Not to English clubs. At least no club is kicked out of the competition like the English in the eighties. And it's only for one year, not five like the English in the eighties.
Platini can't possibly possess the sufficient objectivity to make this decision. He could be biased against English Clubs because he was actually on the pitch in Heysel playing for Juve. He should be excused from any part of deciding this matter as he can't possibly be impartial. No court would allow such a potential conflict of interest or impartiality
Irish fan here so not biased towards or against English football.
Here's a simple solution that would eliminate the issue very quickly.
1. Take the final away from Rome NOW, IMMEDIATLEY, without hesitation. Cite the hooliganism specifically as the one and only reason. Blame the violence. (Send a message loud and clear that even thugs can understand. There plenty of other countries that would love to host the final. Ten weeks is plenty of time for security planning (it’s done all the time anyway)
Or move the Final to Old Trafford or Wembley or The Emirates Stadium. The English Authorities host European games a couple of times a week every couple of weeks, incident free!!! That safety excuse from UEFA is complete and utter LIES)
Hey, English pigs. I am not Italian. English pigs. Take a bath, please.
deifntly be banned
roma is not a safe place
its nor fair for those por people who watched a decent match had to die
UEFA Better sort this out
couse if the dont its gonna be an ugly final
pity it wasnt jade goody
Enough is enough. Why Rome got this final in the first place is unbelievable. Now they should switch the final immediately. Even if it means delaying the game. It's not impossible when you don't have to organise riot squads!!!! The Italian authorities turn a blind eye to violence at their clubs on a weekly basis, why should visiting teams and fans have to put up with this? The Ultra's will go to the final whoever is playing and that's not something that decent football fans should be made to face!!!
i agree they should be kicked out of all competions for five years at least
I agree with David C. It is definately time for Roma to be banned.
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It's about time EUFA got its act in order. The fact is that Roma, as with other Italian clubs, have a long history of abuse and contempt to visiting teams. Last night was no exception and to be told to avoid travelling there, other than in groups, in advance of the game is an indictment in itself.
Roma should be heavily fined and banned from Championship and all Eufa competitions for the foreseeable future (5 years minimum) and made an example of. I am fed up with mealy mouthed excuses especially those offered by Monsieur Gailliard who tries to assure us that the final WILL be safe and that it would be impossible to re-arrange at this stage. What a load of rubbish.! Week excuses as usual. Gutless! An angry Dave in Suffolk. Come on you Gooners!
strange how you have got child in your name?
idiot
Awe no, micpando, they are worse. they speak French, German and Italian. Hehehehehe
@#$%...tat kind of ppl really bad...dint show some respect on football
i believe not all Roma fan like tat, there are too many @#$% like this in this world
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