Liverpool fan critical after ‘belt attack’
Roma supporters seen ‘assaulting’ lone rival Social media shows 20 Italians on rampage
A Liverpool fan was in a critical condition last night after being attacked, allegedly with a belt by Roma fans, before last night’s game
Two men from Rome were last night arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the 53-yearold supporter, who is believed to have travelled to the game from Ireland, was set upon outside the Albert pub.
Footage posted on social media appeared to show groups of Roma fans charging towards Liverpool supporters, one of whom had been knocked to the ground, before they were chased down the streets behind the stadium.
The Liverpool fan was treated on the road by a team of paramedics as police waited to usher ambulances through the packed streets in the minutes before the game kicked off. Police were called to the scene at 7.35pm, 10 minutes before kickoff, following reports of a serious assault.
Detective Inspector Paul Speight, of Mersyeside Police said: “We believe the victim was in Liverpool with his brother for the Liverpool v Roma semi-final and was assaulted during an altercation between Roma and Liverpool fans near to the Albert pub at about 7.35pm.
“Witnesses report that the victim was hit with a belt and then fell to the ground. Paramedics treated him at the scene and he was taken by ambulance to Walton Neurological Centre, where he is being treated for a head injury. His condition is currently described as critical and his next of kin have been informed.
“The place where this incident occurred is right by the ground and was heaving with fans making their way to the game. I would appeal to anyone who has any information, or mobile-phone footage of the incident to contact us urgently, as information they have could be vital to our investigation.
“Merseyside Police can confirm that two men, aged 25 and 26 years from Rome, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 53-year-old man was seriously injured before the Champions League semi-final game.” Police said the men were arrested inside the ground.
Liverpool issued a statement last night saying they were “shocked and appalled” by the incident. “Our thoughts, in the first instance, are with the victim and his family at this very traumatic time. We will be offering them our full support.”
In a video shared on Twitter, a collection of around 20 Roma fans were filmed apparently attacking a Liverpool fan.
The injured man was attended to by a steward. According to eyewitness reports, the fans charged using batons and belts as weapons, before fleeing after Liverpool fans in the vicinity became aware of the situation.
The road was soon flooded with police officers, who cleared the area around the injured man as he received treatment. He was eventually carried inside an ambulance on a stretcher, with stewards and police frantically trying to clear the roads of fans to allow the vehicle to leave the area.
There were also separate reports of scuffles between the two sets of fans outside a local pub in the area in further ugly scenes that will raise concerns about Liverpool’s trip to Rome for the second leg next week.
The violence followed hours of frenzied build-up to the game in the roads near Anfield as the home fans once again gathered to welcome the Liverpool team bus and set off flares, as they did when Liverpool played Manchester City in the quarter-final earlier this month. City’s bus was pelted with bottles.
Before last night’s game, Merseyside Police had warned fans that it would crack down on any fan disturbances around the ground.