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United fan stabbed ahead of final United fan stabbed ahead of final
(about 5 hours later)
A Manchester United fan has been stabbed in the leg in Rome ahead of the Champions League final.A Manchester United fan has been stabbed in the leg in Rome ahead of the Champions League final.
The British man was stabbed on Tuesday night, taken to hospital and released after treatment, the British embassy in Rome said.The British man was stabbed on Tuesday night, taken to hospital and released after treatment, the British embassy in Rome said.
Italian police said the incident happened on the banks of the Tiber River, close to Vatican City. He was taken to Spirito Santo Hospital.Italian police said the incident happened on the banks of the Tiber River, close to Vatican City. He was taken to Spirito Santo Hospital.
About 30,000 Manchester United fans are descending on the city for the final. About 30,000 Manchester United fans are in the city for the final.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Foreign Office are both investigating the stabbing.Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Foreign Office are both investigating the stabbing.
Speaking from Rome, British Embassy spokesman Pierluigi Puglia, confirmed the reports.Speaking from Rome, British Embassy spokesman Pierluigi Puglia, confirmed the reports.
I do not believe any arrests were made in connection with this incident and we have no reported arrests elsewhere Pierluigi Puglia, British Embassy spokesmanI do not believe any arrests were made in connection with this incident and we have no reported arrests elsewhere Pierluigi Puglia, British Embassy spokesman
He said: "We know that a British man was stabbed in the left leg overnight and was later released from hospital.He said: "We know that a British man was stabbed in the left leg overnight and was later released from hospital.
"We have spoken to two of his friends who contacted us but we are still trying to trace the man himself to check he is well."We have spoken to two of his friends who contacted us but we are still trying to trace the man himself to check he is well.
"I do not believe any arrests were made in connection with this incident and we have no reported arrests elsewhere.""I do not believe any arrests were made in connection with this incident and we have no reported arrests elsewhere."
There are 12 British police officers on duty in Rome, some in uniform and others in plain clothes acting as spotters for trouble-makers or those who have been banned from attending such games.There are 12 British police officers on duty in Rome, some in uniform and others in plain clothes acting as spotters for trouble-makers or those who have been banned from attending such games.
Some fans are thought to have travelled to Rome without tickets. Police have warned people to beware of forgeries.Some fans are thought to have travelled to Rome without tickets. Police have warned people to beware of forgeries.
Photographic identityPhotographic identity
Ian Stirling, of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, said: "Rome is so accessible, there's lots of different ways of getting here. Police said the build up had been good natured so far with no reports of violence.
"There's people driving over in horse boxes, there's people going to airports all over England and flying to anywhere in Italy to get into a car. Basically, all roads lead to Rome." A number of Italian touts trying to sell tickets to United fans.
You don't part with ridiculous amounts of money for something that, at the end of the day, won't necessarily get you in there Supt John Graves A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "It's all going well so far, a few ticket touts have been arrested by Italian police but there have been no reports of violence.
One fan, staying in a makeshift campsite dubbed "Fergie's Field" in honour of the club's manager Sir Alex Ferguson, said his journey took longer than anticipated after getting off the ferry in Calais and "ending up in Belgium". "It all seems to be very good natured."
A steady stream of fans left from Manchester Airport
One fan, staying in a makeshift campsite dubbed "Fergie's Field" in honour of the club's manager Sir Alex Ferguson, said his journey had taken longer than anticipated after getting off the ferry in Calais and "ending up in Belgium".
"The sat-nav was set to miss out the toll road on the M6 but we forgot to change it back when we got to France," he told BBC News."The sat-nav was set to miss out the toll road on the M6 but we forgot to change it back when we got to France," he told BBC News.
"So we took a slight detour through Belgium, Luxembourg, ended up in Strasbourg, Germany, Switzerland and then on [to Italy].""So we took a slight detour through Belgium, Luxembourg, ended up in Strasbourg, Germany, Switzerland and then on [to Italy]."
Italian authorities are also expecting up to 30,000 fans of Catalan giants FC Barcelona and say their biggest worry is the 5,000 ticketless fans expected to be in the city. Italian authorities were expecting up to 30,000 fans of Catalan giants FC Barcelona and said their biggest worry was the estimated 5,000 ticketless fans .
The credit card-style match tickets have personal information embedded in a microchip and supporters will have to produce photographic identity to confirm they are the legitimate holder.The credit card-style match tickets have personal information embedded in a microchip and supporters will have to produce photographic identity to confirm they are the legitimate holder.
A steady stream of fans have been leaving from Manchester Airport
Supt John Graves, part of a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) delegation in the city, said: "There's going to be disappointed fans and I've no doubt, despite our best efforts, fans will still travel hoping to buy them here.
"The advice is to be really careful, really cautious, there are a lot of counterfeits out there on the streets and the prices that ticket touts are demanding are ridiculous.
"You don't part with ridiculous amounts of money for something that, at the end of the day, won't necessarily get you in there."
Manchester United's players flew out to Rome on Monday and are bidding to become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy.Manchester United's players flew out to Rome on Monday and are bidding to become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy.
FC Barcelona, who also won their domestic league title, last won the top European prize in 2006.FC Barcelona, who also won their domestic league title, last won the top European prize in 2006.