‘Shameful’: Rome mayor dismayed after Lazio thugs attack Real Sociedad fans
Share:
Nine Real Sociedad football fans were injured, one seriously, in central Rome late on Wednesday night, allegedly after being violently attacked by hardcore “ultra” Lazio supporters. According to reports in Italian media, the Spaniards were among a group of about 70 allegedly set upon by what appeared to be about 80 Lazio ultras, who were armed with clubs, chains and knives and hammers, outside a pub on Via Leonina in the Monti district of the Italian capital. Security in the city has been upped before the Europa League match at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night.
Three of the people injured were hospitalised with stab wounds. One, aged 23, is in a serious condition, according to reports. Three others were discharged after treatment and three more were reportedly examined for their injuries in a hospital emergency unit before leaving.
Italian police have seized the weapons used in the attack and are examining CCTV images to identify those responsible. In a video clip purporting to be of the incident recorded by a Monti resident and posted on social media, a gang, dressed in black and believed to be the Lazio ultras, are running along a street and can be heard shouting “we kill everyone”.
La Repubblica newspaper reported that the attack happened as the Spanish fans were having a drink at the Irish pub Finnegan. It is unclear whether Real Sociedad ultras, a term that originated in Italy but which is used globally to define groups of hardcore, and often violent, football supporters, were among the group. Police are working to establish whether the attack was planned by the suspected Lazio ultras, who are on the extreme right of the political spectrum, against their leftwing counterparts.
.jpg?trim=66,0,66,0&quality=75&auto=webp&width=1000)
