Legia hooligans rip up Rome ahead of Europa League loss to Lazio
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
20.09.2013 08:50
Police in Rome detained twenty Legia hooligans on Thursday evening, when the Warsaw side lost 1-0 to Lazio at the city’s Stadio Olimpico.
Police clash with Legia 'ultras' in Rome ahead of the evening match with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, 19.09.2013 Photo: PAP/Bartłomiej Zborowski
Riot police managed to follow varying groups of Legia supporters, many of whom were under the influence of alcohol, news agencies report.
Dressed in white balaclavas, the groups gathered around various Roman tourist sights, such as the Piazza Venezia and the Colloseum, where reports claim acts of vandalism.
In the run-up to the match, authorities managed to contain Legia hooligans who tried to break into the stadium, with police sporadically having to use force.
Around 2,000 Legia ‘ultras’ tried to break into the southern sector, throwing anything to hand in the direction of police, the Italian daily La Repubblica writes on Friday morning.
However, police managed to keep Legia supporters separated from their Lazio counterparts, which has been hailed locally as a success.
Thursday night’s match is considered to be a rehearsal for both the police and players before Sunday night’s ‘Derby della Capitale’ between Lazio and AS Roma. (jb)
Read the match report here.
Legia fans at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, 19.09.2013 Photo: PAP/Bartłomiej Zborowski