Fans Stabbed in Brawl Ahead of Lazio vs Sevilla Europa League Match in Rome
The brawl involved more than 40 Lazio and Sevilla fans and the police, in riot gear, dispersed the mob (representative image courtesy Twitter).
Four people were stabbed and seriously injured in a brawl between fans of Lazio and Sevilla in downtown Rome. The two clubs will face off on Thursday in the first leg of their Round of 32 UEFA Europa League playoff tie.
The violence erupted around 9.30 p.m. on February 13 at Monti near the Coliseum in Rome, where the four — two Spaniards, an American and a British citizen — were stabbed, reported IANS, quoting Efe news.
Also Read | Sala’s Death, Hakeem al Araibi’s Life and Football’s Ugly Face
The wounded were quickly taken to Spirito Santo Hospital where one of them is said to be in a critical condition.
The brawl involved more than 40 fans from both sides and some of them took refuge in nearby bars and restaurants after the police, in riot gear, broke the mob.
“Everything was quiet, when suddenly we heard shouting and the sound of broken glass. We rushed to the window and saw guys with hoods armed with clubs and batons that were attacking other guys,” a local bar was quoted by La Repubblica daily.
Video | Basel Acquire 26% Stake in I-League Club Chennai City FC
According to initial reports, a group of Lazio fans wearing masks and armed with truncheons and knives attacked some youngsters and Sevilla fans who were on Leonina Street, wounding some of them in the legs.
Gazzetta dello Sport daily, in its report, said that the British citizen and a Spanish fan, injured in the incident, is in critical condition.
Corriere della Sera reported that one of the injured fan, who was bleeding, dragged himself along the street and was crying for help from passersby.
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
