Spurs fans injured in attack by Lazio ultras

ROME - Agence France-Presse

Tables and stools are seen inside ‘The Drunken Ship’ pub in Rome. AP photo

Tottenham fans were injured after suspected hardline fans of Lazio attacked a pub in the Italian capital, Rome, reports said.

Lazio was to host Tottenham at the Olympic Stadium yesterday for a Europa League match to which English icon Paul Gascoigne, a former star of both clubs, has been invited to attend.

However any festivities were overshadowed by the latest incident to marr Rome’s reputation as one of the most dangerous cities for English fans.

One of those injured had to attend hospital after the attack, which occurred in the early hours of yesterday morning when a group of Italians wearing masks attacked the premises, according to witnesses quoted by the ANSA news agency.

The Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said the injured supporter had suffered a stab wound. He had been among a group of 10 fans which included nine English and an American.

Gazzetta quoted the owner of the Drunken Ship pub, Marco Manzi, as saying: “Everything looked planned, they were extremely organized. They blocked the second exit and were even armed with tear gas. “They managed to isolate the English and started hitting them with bars, chairs and tables.”

The incident is one of many involving hardline fans of Italian clubs and fans from England.

A number of Liverpool supporters were stabbed after a European Cup final triumph against Roma in 1984.

Since then fans from Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Manchester United have all suffered violence in Rome over the years at the hands of ultras from the city’s two clubs, Roma and Lazio.