Italian 'Ultras' fly to London to learn the art of football hooliganism

Italian newspaper La Stampa reports that an increasing number of hardcore Ultras from Rome, Turin and Verona are flying to the UK on budget airlines to establish links with thugs at clubs such as Millwall and West Ham.

They earn the respect of English "firms" by getting into organised fights on matchdays across the country.

The report quotes one Ultra, Francesco from Turin, as saying: "Years back some of us moved to London for work. We began following local teams.

"At the start [the local fans] were suspicious of us, but once they got to know us they accepted us."

He said fighting on the "front line" earns the Italians respect. Italian police fear the Ultras have picked up British tricks of the trade and taken them back to Italy.

Italian football violence often involves flares and missiles thrown at players — but the Italians are picking up a more subtle "British" approach including not wearing club colours, moving in small groups, not attacking opponents at the ground and fixing fights at hidden sites.