Boiling point: Tension grows as Italians hit out at Fergie meddling

The situation was inflamed when the Italian club accused Sir Alex Ferguson of trying to influence the referee ahead of next week's Champions League return leg at Old Trafford.

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Flashpoint: Italian riot police show no mercy with United supporters

Then Achille Serra, the man in charge of public security in Rome, warned Italian fans going to Manchester: "Don't be provocative, walk round in groups and don't wave Roma scarves."

The attack on Ferguson came as Tottenham arrived back from their UEFA Cup clash in Seville demanding answers over heavy-handed' policing of their fans. UEFA have launched investigations into crowd trouble which prompted baton charges by riot police at that match and in Rome 24 hours earlier.

The row following United's 2-1 defeat in the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday intensified when Roma players rounded on Ferguson.

The United manager had accused referee Herbert Fandel of being Roma's 12th man' in midweek and yesterday he repeated his criticism of Roma defender Christian Chivu, who appeared to applaud the official for sending off Paul Scholes.

Roma keeper Doni said Ferguson was looking for excuses, saying: "I do not understand the protests about the referee. What's Ferguson talking about?

"Ferguson is just searching for more pressure to put on the referee for the next match."

And Chivu, accused by Ferguson of "unacceptable" behaviour, said: "He's protesting because he's trying to justify the defeat."

But Ferguson hit back: "I have no problems with Roma as a club but Chivu is a different breed."

Investigations were continuing in England and Italy yesterday into what happened as 18 United fans were hospitalised after clashes with police in and around the Olympic Stadium.

Three United fans were yesterday banned from Italian grounds after being accused of violence against state employees' and may face trial in Italy.

But UEFA and the British Home Office are still probing the behaviour of Italian police who appeared to attack United fans at random.

Ferguson and his players remained in Rome until yesterday and he said: "I've heard some of it was nasty but haven't seen any of it because they've not shown it again on TV over here."

Italian authorities, however, presented video clips and photographs which they claim prove United fans were pushing past stewards towards Roma supporters and hurling objects at police which led them to batoncharge the fans.

Serra added: "English fans rushed the stadium staff. When they were overwhelmed police were forced to intervene."

But Roma coach Luciano Spaletti hit out at his club's supporters, saying: "Those fans who carried knives on Wednesday are idiots. They have undermined the club and what I am trying to do here."

Tottenham were yesterday demanding answers as it emerged club representatives were hit by baton-wielding police as Spurs lost 2-1 to Sevilla.

Club secretary John Alexander said: "We need to understand how we have two clearly identifiable Spurs stewards assaulted by police, along with our disability co-ordinator being injured. There was one disabled fan who we know was hit with a baton with such force that it knocked him out of his wheelchair."

Spurs fan and Sky Sports presenter Clare Tomlinson, at the match as a supporter, condemned the police, saying: "You couldn't watch the game because they kept running down the aisles and hitting out.

"Then they say the fans are reacting. When you're watching girls being hit, when you're watching the disabled being attacked, people aren't just going to stand back and say: 'Well, that's OK'.

"I had people crying on my shoulder. All you could do was cushion the blows. When you tried to speak to the police, they pushed you away."

She added on Sky Sports News: "At half-time, we all got out of the stand. We all stood at the back. There were five girls there with two lads and the police came at us there. We were clearly trying to get out of the way of the trouble and they threw us down some stairs and the boys got hit. The police have some questions to answer."

Haringey police chief Simon O'Brien, an observer at the match, also questioned the Spanish police's approach. He said: "The Spurs fans' behaviour was excellent all day and Spurs stewards did what I can only describe as a remarkable and commendable job at the match.

"There was a different level of police intervention to that of the UK and the introduction of the police in one particular section of the crowd undoubtedly contributed to the disturbances."

Even host club Sevilla said they were "perplexed" at the "excessive force" used by police.