Kop in Roma safety summit

LIVERPOOL officials will hold a security summit with Roma, UEFA and Italian authorities today amid fears of trouble at next week’s Champions League semi-final at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Anfield club have taken the unprecedented step as they bid to ensure their 5,000 fans are given full safety advice.

Liverpool, who will send a high-level delegation to the meeting, made their concerns known as soon as the draw for the semi-finals was made.

The Reds, Roma and UEFA have been in constant dialogue since then about safety in the Italian capital, long before a

Reds fan was seriously injured outside

Anfield before the first leg on

Tuesday.

Irishman

Sean Cox, 53, is in a critical condition in hospital after the incident outside a pub.

Liverpool have been left frustrated by the failure of Italian authorities to provide guidelines and assurances just six days before the return fixture.

The club would usually have given this information to travelling fans by now.

A club statement said: “Liverpool Football Club is continuing to do everything in its power to provide supporters travelling to Rome next week with the most comprehensive safety and security advice. The club has taken the exceptional measure of

requesting an extraordinary meeting in Rome.

“Liverpool have sought clarity on a number of issues surrounding the match-day operation since the draw was made and hope this extraordinary meeting will provide the necessary reassurances and essential information.”

Liverpool want a number of issues cleared up.

They include assurances that enough secure shuttle buses will be provided to ferry 5,000 fans to the ground.

Liverpool also want to know how ticket checks will be carried out at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night.

Italian regulations state that names must be printed on each ticket.

The club want to know what time turnstiles at the stadium will be opened and what the policy is on bags taken into the ground.

There has also been no information about what areas to avoid and what routes to take to the ground if fans do not get the shuttle services.