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Injured fans vent anger at police | Injured fans vent anger at police |
(40 minutes later) | |
Bloodied and bruised supporters began arriving back from Manchester United's Champions League clash in Rome speaking of their anger at Italian police. | Bloodied and bruised supporters began arriving back from Manchester United's Champions League clash in Rome speaking of their anger at Italian police. |
At least 11 United fans were taken to hospital, three with stab wounds, and a number were arrested following clashes with police and Roma fans on Wednesday. | At least 11 United fans were taken to hospital, three with stab wounds, and a number were arrested following clashes with police and Roma fans on Wednesday. |
Some supporters arriving at Manchester Airport were bandaged and others had visible head wounds. | Some supporters arriving at Manchester Airport were bandaged and others had visible head wounds. |
"The police were beyond control," said one eye witness. | "The police were beyond control," said one eye witness. |
During the game, which Roma won 2-1, both sets of fans could be seen throwing missiles at each other. | During the game, which Roma won 2-1, both sets of fans could be seen throwing missiles at each other. |
Uefa has announced an investigation into the crowd trouble at the Stadio Olimpico, although United fans claimed it was Italian police who made the situation worse. | Uefa has announced an investigation into the crowd trouble at the Stadio Olimpico, although United fans claimed it was Italian police who made the situation worse. |
We didn't expect to be battered by the Italian police for doing nothing Manchester United fan Fans in hospital after violence | We didn't expect to be battered by the Italian police for doing nothing Manchester United fan Fans in hospital after violence |
One man said: "We were told there was going to be trouble outside the ground so we were told to be careful - as we were. | One man said: "We were told there was going to be trouble outside the ground so we were told to be careful - as we were. |
"We didn't expect to be battered by the Italian police for doing nothing." | "We didn't expect to be battered by the Italian police for doing nothing." |
Businessman Stephen Fitzsimons, 53, was knifed in the groin as he made his way to the ground with three friends. | Businessman Stephen Fitzsimons, 53, was knifed in the groin as he made his way to the ground with three friends. |
He was taken to hospital and twice underwent emergency surgery to control his bleeding. | He was taken to hospital and twice underwent emergency surgery to control his bleeding. |
His sister-in-law, Patricia, 49, told BBC Five Live: They were ambushed by Roma fans and three of them, including Stephen, were stabbed - one of them is quite poorly. | His sister-in-law, Patricia, 49, told BBC Five Live: They were ambushed by Roma fans and three of them, including Stephen, were stabbed - one of them is quite poorly. |
"They were just going to watch a football match. They are nice people." | "They were just going to watch a football match. They are nice people." |
Some witnesses inside the ground spoke of terrified women and children running away from the police during one baton charge, while a disabled man was knocked out of his wheelchair. | Some witnesses inside the ground spoke of terrified women and children running away from the police during one baton charge, while a disabled man was knocked out of his wheelchair. |
Daughter 'scared' | Daughter 'scared' |
Martin Davey, who was with his daughter Kat just 20m away from the trouble, said: "The police were beyond control. | Martin Davey, who was with his daughter Kat just 20m away from the trouble, said: "The police were beyond control. |
"Their senior officers were trying to pull them back but they just went wild. They were using their batons and kicking people. It was just mayhem." | |
His daughter said she did not want to return to the country, adding: "I was terrified, really scared. You could sense the atmosphere as soon as you entered the ground." | His daughter said she did not want to return to the country, adding: "I was terrified, really scared. You could sense the atmosphere as soon as you entered the ground." |
BBC correspondent Christian Fraser, who was in the stadium, said trouble flared after Roma fans ran towards the perspex partition which separated the supporters. | BBC correspondent Christian Fraser, who was in the stadium, said trouble flared after Roma fans ran towards the perspex partition which separated the supporters. |
I've been following United for 30 years across Europe and I've never seen anything like it Steve Morris, from Stretford Uefa to investigate Rome violence | I've been following United for 30 years across Europe and I've never seen anything like it Steve Morris, from Stretford Uefa to investigate Rome violence |
He said Manchester United fans reacted and the police moved in with their batons in a response that was "at best robust and in some cases some officers went completely over the top". | He said Manchester United fans reacted and the police moved in with their batons in a response that was "at best robust and in some cases some officers went completely over the top". |
The view was supported by Manchester United fan Debbie Robertson, from Rusholme, who told BBC Five Live that some police actually shielded her from their over-zealous colleagues. | The view was supported by Manchester United fan Debbie Robertson, from Rusholme, who told BBC Five Live that some police actually shielded her from their over-zealous colleagues. |
"There was four or five police and they were coming towards me and my husband with the helmets and their batons," she said. | "There was four or five police and they were coming towards me and my husband with the helmets and their batons," she said. |
"We were sort of pinned against a perspex panel, so he (the officer) started to shield us and say, 'You'd better move somewhere else' but there wasn't really anywhere else to move to." | "We were sort of pinned against a perspex panel, so he (the officer) started to shield us and say, 'You'd better move somewhere else' but there wasn't really anywhere else to move to." |
Another man, who arrived back in the arrivals lounge with dried blood still visible on a head wound, blamed the Roma fans for the trouble. | Another man, who arrived back in the arrivals lounge with dried blood still visible on a head wound, blamed the Roma fans for the trouble. |
'Targeted again' | 'Targeted again' |
"The away fans started throwing bottles and coins and the police just waded in with their truncheons," he said, | "The away fans started throwing bottles and coins and the police just waded in with their truncheons," he said, |
"They [the police] ill-treated us yet again." | "They [the police] ill-treated us yet again." |
Manchester United fans also experienced problems with police during their last visit to Europe against Lille in Lens, France. | Manchester United fans also experienced problems with police during their last visit to Europe against Lille in Lens, France. |
Prior to Wednesday night's game, Rome's mayor Walter Veltroni said United's warning to its fans about the violence threat was "dangerous because it risks creating a negative climate". | Prior to Wednesday night's game, Rome's mayor Walter Veltroni said United's warning to its fans about the violence threat was "dangerous because it risks creating a negative climate". |
But according to eye witness accounts streaming into the BBC, most of the blame is being placed with the Italian authorities. | But according to eye witness accounts streaming into the BBC, most of the blame is being placed with the Italian authorities. |
Steve Morris, from Stretford, told BBC Five Live that he had returned from Italy feeling "lucky to be alive". | Steve Morris, from Stretford, told BBC Five Live that he had returned from Italy feeling "lucky to be alive". |
"I've been following United for 30 years across Europe and I've never seen anything like it," he said. | "I've been following United for 30 years across Europe and I've never seen anything like it," he said. |
"We were ambushed at virtually every turn by knife-wielding ultras. The Italian police just stood and watched us being attacked. | "We were ambushed at virtually every turn by knife-wielding ultras. The Italian police just stood and watched us being attacked. |
"When the English did retaliate they waded in with batons, hitting everyone in sight. Enough is enough." | "When the English did retaliate they waded in with batons, hitting everyone in sight. Enough is enough." |
A statement released by Manchester United on Thursday said: "There were clearly some very disturbing scenes in the stadium last night. | A statement released by Manchester United on Thursday said: "There were clearly some very disturbing scenes in the stadium last night. |
"Until we have had chance to discuss the situation with the British Embassy in Rome and the Italian authorities and to understand the cause, it would be inappropriate to comment." | "Until we have had chance to discuss the situation with the British Embassy in Rome and the Italian authorities and to understand the cause, it would be inappropriate to comment." |