Roma chief calls for unity as security level is escalated amid fear of violent reprisals

Roma’s American president has called on Italian supporters to unite in protest following the latest incidents of fan violence involving his club.

Ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield last week, two men from Rome were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an assault outside the stadium that left a Liverpool fan in critical condition.

“It’s time now for things to change in Italy and in Rome, because it is just happening too much,” said Roma owner Jim Pallotta, pictured..

Security concerns are high for tomorrow’s return leg in Rome.

“It’s not just an issue for Rome,” Pallotta added. “It’s an issue for Italy and it’s an issue for the authorities and it’s an issue for all of (us) to band together and to finally wake up so that we don’t have a reputation – that’s not deserved around the rest of the world – that our fans are not good fans.

“Our fans are the best fans in the world. It’s just a couple of morons that take the rest of us down.”

Since assuming Roma’s presidency in 2012, Pallotta has taken a hard stance against violent “ultra” fans, often calling them “idiots” for instances of racism and protests over security barriers.

The most serious incidents involving Roma fans have come outside the stadium, such as clashes that led to a Napoli fan’s death from a shooting before the 2014 Italian Cup final. Ciro Esposito died 50 days after he was shot by a Roma supporter, resulting in a 16-year homicide sentence for Roma fan Daniele De Santis.

At the game in Liverpool, Roma fans held up a banner that read DDS con noi –DDS with us – in a reference to De Santis. Now, Liverpool fan Sean Cox remains critically ill in a medically-induced coma.

“These games are great but they’re not life and death,” Pallotta said. “What’s going on right now with Sean Cox in Liverpool, that’s life and death and that affects his family.”

With worries about a reprisal attack, Italian and British authorities have collaborated with the two clubs and Uefa on an extensive security plan for the return leg.

The 5,000 Liverpool supporters travelling to Rome will be constantly monitored with specific areas allocated “to socialise” in the downtown Campo de Fiori and near the Colosseum.

Liverpool’s preparations for the match were dealt a blow when it was revealed assistant coach Zeljko Buvac is spending time away from the first team from now until the end of the season for personal reasons.

The club have stressed that he remains a Liverpool employee and his position is not affected by this absence.

Buvac was on the touchline for Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Stoke but his absence in Rome is an unwanted distraction. Buvac has been Klopp’s trusted righthand man for 17 years and the Reds boss refers to him as “The Brain” of his backroom staff.