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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Injured fans vent anger at police | Injured fans vent anger at police |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bloodied and bruised fans arriving back from Manchester United's Champions League clash in Rome have spoken of their anger at Italian police. | Bloodied and bruised fans arriving back from Manchester United's Champions League clash in Rome have spoken of their anger at Italian police. |
| A number of United fans were taken to hospital, three with stab wounds, and some were arrested after clashes with police and Roma fans on Wednesday. | A number of United fans were taken to hospital, three with stab wounds, and some were arrested after clashes with police and Roma fans on Wednesday. |
| Some supporters arriving at Manchester Airport were bandaged and others had head wounds. | Some supporters arriving at Manchester Airport were bandaged and others had 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. |
| The doctor said I was very lucky to be alive - I was 2cm away from being dead Manchester United fan Stephen Fitzsimons | The doctor said I was very lucky to be alive - I was 2cm away from being dead Manchester United fan Stephen Fitzsimons |
| The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMSA) led the condemnation of police for what it said were "hideous" attacks on fans. | The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMSA) led the condemnation of police for what it said were "hideous" attacks on fans. |
| Spokeswoman Carly Lyes said: "There was no need for the brutal level of violence they showed. | |
| "The police charged in from all angles and were hitting people indiscriminately. | "The police charged in from all angles and were hitting people indiscriminately. |
| "They didn't care who got hurt. People were running all over the place trying to get away. It was chaos." | "They didn't care who got hurt. People were running all over the place trying to get away. It was chaos." |
| Businessman Stephen Fitzsimons, 53, from Stretford, Greater Manchester, was knifed in the groin as he made his way to the ground with three friends. | Businessman Stephen Fitzsimons, 53, from Stretford, Greater Manchester, 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. |
| Mr Fitzsimons, who hopes to be released from hospital on Saturday, told BBC Radio Manchester: "No police have been to see me... it's disgusting. | Mr Fitzsimons, who hopes to be released from hospital on Saturday, told BBC Radio Manchester: "No police have been to see me... it's disgusting. |
| "The doctor said I was very lucky to be alive - I was 2cm away from being dead." | "The doctor said I was very lucky to be alive - I was 2cm away from being dead." |
| 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 reportedly 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 reportedly knocked out of his wheelchair. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| 'Negative climate' | 'Negative climate' |
| 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. |
| "The 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 experienced problems with police during their last visit to Europe against Lille in Lens, France. | Manchester United fans 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". |
| No inquiry | |
| 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." |
| Rome's head of police, Achille Serra, insisted the police action was a "justified response", and said there would be no inquiry unless he were shown evidence of any alleged police brutality. | |
| Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete backed Mr Serra's comments: "The English press speak of heavy handed police? We owe gratitude to our law enforcers. | |
| "I don't believe those who try to make games safe can be crucified in this manner." |