Italian club, Lazio, were set to face Spanish side, Real Sociedad in the Europa League this past Thursday. It wasn't a memarable trip for a bunch of Real Sociedad fans. This is because they were attacked by Lazio fans the night prior to the match taking place. This has caused some outrage.
Around 70 fans of Real Sociedad were attacked by Lazio ultras in Rome. According to police, the attack by 80 suspected Lazio ultras – a hardcore faction of the club’s fanbase – took place in a nightclub in the center of the Italian capital, near the Colosseum in the neighborhood of Monti.
Police said that nine people were taken to a local hospital, three of whom were stabbed and the others were beaten with metal chains, hammers and leather straps. Three people remain in hospital, while several people refused treatment, a spokesperson for San Giovanni hospital said.
City councilor, Nathalie Naim, posted footage of the violence on Facebook, writing: "Scenes of war tonight in the Rione Monti. The roar of violent explosions, the sky turning red, screams, the buildings shaking, the people running away from the various premises."
The chaos reportedly erupted at a nightclub where the two parties confronted each other. Eyewitnesses described horrifying scenes of violence and fear. "Scenes of war tonight in the Rione Monti. The roar of violent explosions, the sky turning red, screams, the buildings shaking," Naim remarked.
"Groups of Spanish and Lazio fans dressed in black, some with helmets and bats, faced each other at the pub in Via Leonina with knives, jacks and hammers where they threw paper bombs … Police officers and financial police in riot gear and ambulances intervened. When everything was over after a few hours, the police advised not to circulate in the district."
"The images of the attacks last night in Rome against Spanish fans are shameful and unacceptable," Rome mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, said on Thursday. “Rome strongly rejects these scenes of insane violence that offend the city, its citizens and the spirit of sport.
"I trust that the investigations of the police will soon shed light on those responsible, because the Capital of Italy does not want and does not deserve to be remembered for such barbarity."
Italian police have seized the weapons used in the attack and are examining CCTV images to identify those responsible. In a video clip purporting to be of the incident recorded by a Monti resident and posted on social media, a gang, dressed in black and believed to be the Lazio ultras, are running along a street and can be heard shouting “we kill everyone”.
La Repubblica newspaper reported that the attack happened as the Spanish fans were having a drink at the Irish pub Finnegan.
It's unclear whether Real Sociedad ultras, a term that originated in Italy but is used globally to define groups of hardcore and often violent, football supporters, were among the group. Police are working to establish whether the attack was planned by the suspected Lazio ultras, who are on the extreme right of the political spectrum, against their left-wing counterparts.
Walter Verini, a senator and coordinator of an anti-mafia parliamentary committee, told the LaPresse news agency the attack was, "further confirmation of the severity of a problem which, unfortunately, concerns parts of a fanbase."
"Not all fans are criminals. It seems to be understood that this armed violence is somehow also linked to delusional political extremists, in the case of far-right Lazio."
The Rome mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, said the attacks were, "shameful and unacceptable." He said, "Rome strongly rejects these scenes of crazy violence which offend the city, its citizens and the spirit of sport. I trust that the investigations by police will soon shed light on those responsible because the Italian capital does not want and does not deserve to be remembered for such barbarism.
Lazio, on Thursday, "condemned any form of violence" and said it was offering, "authorities the utmost cooperation and, depending on the outcome of the investigations, should the involvement of members of its fans be ascertained, will act harshly by applying the strictest measures."
Lazio has had problems with far-right extremist fans in the past, while Real Sociedad fans are known to be on the left of the political spectrum.
Lazio ultras, also known as the, "Irriducibili," are notorious for their links with the far-right in Italy, as well as engaging in violent and anti-Semitic behaviour. In 2019, Lazio fans were filmed making fascist salutes and displaying a banner in support of former Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini before an Italian Cup game in Milan.
Two years prior to that, the club was widely condemned after supporters posted stickers around Rome’s Stadio Olimpico depicting Holocaust victim Anne Frank wearing the shirt of city rival Roma alongside anti-Semitic slogans.
The situation raises serious concerns about the culture surrounding sports fan communities, particularly for clubs such as Lazio. The incidents of violence just before significant matches have sparked conversations about the necessity for reform and diligent oversight to protect both players and fans from the threats posed by extremist behaviours.
Lazio won the tie 3-1.
I never see any justifiable reasons for these types of behaviour. It's obviously not necessary. Simple bans won't do any justice. Proper prison time is the ideal punishment. I believe that this will send a clear picture as to what will happen if you attack someone, either local or foreign. These attacks can set a bad image and reputation for a place.