Fan violence erupted in Naples on Wednesday forward of a Champions League match between Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt from which visiting German followers have formally been banned.
Videos on social media confirmed cops being attacked by troublemakers with tables, chairs and pyrotechnics in central places of the town, and at the least one police automobile was set ablaze.
Citing police sources, the ANSA news company stated that ultras and hooligans from the Frankfurt and Napoli camps have been engaged within the riots.
Frankfurt board member Philipp Reschke stated earlier than kick-off they have been advised by police that “Napoli fans attacked our fans which set into motion what we have seen.
“It is evident that nobody needs to see these scenes. It was the riots we feared from the day of the draw onwards. We should come to phrases with it however that can take time.
“The most important thing is that no one was injured, neither on the police side not among the fan groups.”
Frankfurt residents have been banned from attending the last-16 return leg by the prefecture of Naples in reference to safety issues after fan violence across the first-leg match in Germany final month. The Frankfurt membership, which had initially gained an attraction in opposition to a primary fan ban imposed by Italy’s inside ministry, waived the ticket contingent it was entitled to and urged followers to not journey to Italy.
“You have seen that such decrees are useless. You can’t prevent riots with them,” Reschke stated.
Several hundred followers of the Europa League champions nonetheless made their option to Naples and marched by the town on Wednesday, first peacefully earlier than bother began at nightfall.
Police finally managed to place the Frankfurt ultras into buses during which they introduced again to their lodge within the port space. The buses have been reportedly attacked by Napoli followers with stones and bottles.
“The scenes of destruction of our historic city centre are unacceptable,” Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi stated.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms these unspeakable acts by those responsible for them, from whichever side they originated.”
Frankfurt followers had began arriving on Tuesday night time, in accordance with Italian experiences joined by ultras from Napoli’s Italian rivals Atalanta. Every fan was registered by police.
Buses bringing the followers to their lodge have been attacked with pyrotechnics, reportedly set off by Napoli ultras. A big police presence was seen in entrance of the lodge.
ANSA stated {that a} safety pressure of 800 has been deployed to take care of order across the match.
In a video, Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, whose staff gained the primary sport 2-0, has appealed to his personal facet’s followers to chorus from violence and to not be provoked.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has stated that golf equipment shouldn’t be allowed to host European matches of their stadium sooner or later if visiting followers usually are not permitted to attend.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
