Manchester City fans have been banned from wearing belts at Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with Napoli.

City fans heading to the Stadio San Paolo have been told they will not be allowed to wear belts inside the stadium and will be forced to take off the item of clothing outside the ground.

While City and Napoli fans, plus media, are not allowed to wear belts into the Stadio San Paolo, City staff will be allowed.

Kevin Parker, general secretary of the Manchester City Supporters Club, declared the decision 'ridiculous'.

City face a tough test against the Partenopei (
Image:
2017 Getty Images)

"It's absolutely crazy,” he told the Daily Mail. ‘“I know they have had issues with Napoli fans using belts as weapons but since when has that been a thing in England? Why, all of a sudden, should City fans be banned?

"It seems like something always happens with City in this competition. First we're banned from booing, then we were banned from a stadium and now we have been banned from wearing belts."

The ban comes after a Napoli fan who attacked Manchester City supporters with home-made weapons, as part of a group of belt-waving hooligans, has been jailed.

Napoli fan Gianluca Del-Prato, 25, a lawyer's son who led a secret double life as a hooligan with the infamous Ultras gang, was sent to prison for five months after admitting affray on Monday.

Gianluca Del-Prato has been jailed (
Image:
Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

He came to the UK for the game between the sides two weeks ago an helped organised a pre-planned mob attack on rival fans, who were beaten with weapons made of rope, belts and weights, at the Mary D's pub close to the stadium.

A father and his 17-year-old son were among three people left injured after being targeted by the eight-strong gang on October 17.

Police tried to stop the mob but Del-Prato turned on them, attempting to punch one officer in the face before he was tripped up by witnesses as he tried to flee.

Del Prato, from Naples, was also ordered to pay £750 compensation and banned from watching football matches in the UK.

poll loading

How far will Manchester City go in the Champions League?

5000+ VOTES SO FAR