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Two Roma fans arrested after a violent attack on group of Chelsea fans ahead of Champions League clash
Police claim group of ultras wearing masks and carrying sticks ambushed group of Blues supporters as they drank in a pub
TWO Roma fans were arrested today after a violent attack on a group of Chelsea fans ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash.
Cops said a group of Roma ultras wearing masks and carrying sticks ambushed a group of Blues supporters as they sat drinking in a pub.
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No one was hurt in the attack as police were on the scene at The Shamrock pub within minutes and managed to arrest two Italians.
A witness said:”It all kicked off around midnight just as the pub was about to close up.
“It’s popular with visiting fans as it has a football theme and is in the centre of town close to the Colosseum.
“This group of Roma fans burst in wearing masks and sticks and attacked the Chelsea fans who were heavily outnumbered.
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“It was chaos for a few minutes and then when police arrived the Roma fans ran off but they stopped two of them.”
Paramedics were called to the scene but a Rome police spokesman confirmed there were no serious injuries.
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Cops are already on red alert ahead of tonight’s match with around 2,000 Chelsea fans are expected in the Italian capital and extra officers have been drafted in.
Officials fear around 200 potential hooligans will travel to Italy and as a result officers from the Met have also gone out for the high risk game.
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There are fears Chelsea fans will unite with their Lazio counterparts so they can ambush Roma fans heading to the match.
Earlier this month there was trouble in and around Kensington, West London, after Roma supporters for the match at Stamford Bridge clashed with police forcing shoppers to take cover.
Rome has been the scene of various disturbances with English fans from Middlesborough and Man United being targeted in the past - the most serious clash was in 2007 when dozens of United fans were hurt in clashes.
While in 2012 several Tottenham fans were stabbed by Lazio fans during a Europa League match.
A Rome police source said: "We have held meetings with representatives from the Metropolitan Police, the British Embassy and Roma football club.
Roma fans seen clashing with police in West London before Champions League clash with Chelsea
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"We are prepared for everything and this will be a highly sensitive week for us with fans from Britain and the France coming this week as Nice play Lazio on Thursday.
"We will have a high number of officers on duty for the match and we will not tolerate excessive drinking or violent behaviour."
Cops will be patrolling the city's two airports, the main railway station and main squares with bar owners being asked to keep an eye out for drunken fans.
The Foreign Office has also warned Chelsea fans to take precaution saying: "It is strongly recommended that fans should use the shuttle buses and not make their own way to the stadium.
"Fans should avoid the area south of the Olympic stadium, in particular Ponte Duca D’Aosta, where Rome fans normally gather before the match."
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