European football's governing body, Uefa, announced an investigation last night after violence erupted before and during Manchester United's Champions League tie against AS Roma in the Italian capital, in a further blemish on football's reputation.
Ten English fans were in hospital with stab wounds after rival supporters clashed before the game; further confrontations broke out on the terraces between United fans and Italian police, after missiles were thrown during United's 2-1 defeat in the quarter-final first leg tie.
None of the 10 stabbed fans was in a serious condition, a British embassy spokesman said, although one was believed to have been stabbed in the neck.
As many as 18 other United fans suffered injuries as fighting broke out around the stadium, with local police firing teargas to deal with the outbreaks. There was an unconfirmed report of groups of up to 100 rival fans confronting each other.
Uefa's commu
Mr Gaillard admitted there was an "emergency situation" in football. "We had a number of meetings with police forces, because we believe with all the incidents we have had this year we are in an emergency situation. It is definitely very sad to see these scenes in European football," he added on Radio 5 Live.
As the reports of scuffles and worse filtered through, inside the stadium an uneasy peace prevailed. It was full to its 75,000 capacity, with United's 4,500 followers isolated in a section, with space to their right to separate them from Roma's fans. However, it was not an entirely neutral area, and bottles hurled from some in the Roma contingent landed in the middle of United's sector.
There were sporadic occurrences in the hour or so before the game; but, while ominous, the situation appeared under control. A thick line of police were nearer to United's fans than Roma's, who were being overseen by local stewards.
Some fans fought back, but the majority were scattered by the police charges. The seating in the area amounted to no more than a backless piece of plastic set upon benches, which meant fans and police were capable of moving up and down as if it were old-style terracing.
One United fan in the ground told BBC 5 Live: "At the time of the sending-off there were missiles exchanged between fans, and after the Roma goal their fans charged the United section. The police got involved with a baton charge, and all hell broke loose. You had seats being thrown at the police. Most of the missiles being thrown were bottles which were being sold inside the ground."
Uefa's investigation is expected to concentrate on what sparked the clashes. Roma could face action if their security arrangements are deemed inadequate. United fans could be singled out if it is judged they provoked the police; the club were fined earlier this year for their part in the disruption of a cup tie with
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The Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association is compiling a dossier to submit to Uefa and has asked supporters to submit statements and pictures of the incidents. "The club issued warnings to our fans making it clear that they thought that there was danger of attack from the Roma fans," the group said last night. "The Italian police were stationed on our side of the fence, in attack formation against United fans, in a way that only made sense if they were trying to protect the Roma fans from us. There is something very wrong here and we aim to get to the bottom of it."