UEFA to investigative Olympic Stadium violence

English fans were battered by Italian riot police and it is believed that even members of United's official security staff were manhandled as trouble erupted during United's 2-1 defeat to Roma.

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The European governing body were given a clear warning three months ago about the potential for violence around Anglo-Italian games in a special report by England's leading supporters group.

Trouble flared in Rome's Olympic Stadium after rival fans surged towards a barrier separating them and missiles were thrown, the same scenario highlighted in a report by the Independent Football Commission after a study of Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup game against Roma last season.

Police used batons on United supporters and several English fans left the scene bleeding profusely from head wounds.

Before the match, five United supporters were hurt after being ambushed by Italian 'Ultra' fans outside the stadium.

The Foreign Office said a total of 18 British nationals were taken to hospital and one fan attacked on the way into the ground had his throat slashed. A Rome police spokesman said: "He is in a serious condition."

None of these incidents will come as a surprise to the IFC whose report on the treatment of English fans abroad published in December claimed policing in Rome had been "over the top".

Radio engineer Chris Marsland, 43, from Lytham-in-Hyde, said: "It was a completely over-the-top reaction by the Italian police. There were kids in tears and scared stiff. Police were just like wild animals and they kept hitting out at anyone with their batons."

Dennis Price, 45, from Salford, who was with his 11-year-old son Andrew, said: "The Italian police's reaction was outrageous. They are aggressive, nasty people and it's amazing no one was killed or seriously hurt."

The IFC last month accused UEFA of ignoring their damning findings of the way English fans are treated abroad. As was revealed earlier this week, United fans were also sent a letter before the game, stressing the potential for hooliganism and crime in Rome.

Last year's IFC report explained how three Boro fans were stabbed by Roma's 'Ultras' and highlighted an incident when Roma fans broke through the police cordon and charged the fence to get at Middlesbrough supporters.

Last night's trouble happened just before half-time when Rodrigo Taddei put Roma ahead.

English and Italian supporters traded insults and objects were thrown. The police then moved in and one officer was seen raining blows on a supporter who was lying motionless on the ground.

UEFA communications director William Gaillard, who was in the stadium, said the governing body would wait for a report from their delegate at the game and also look at TV pictures as part of a probe.

Roma could face sanctions if they are judged to have failed in their security arrangements. Gaillard said: "We will also have to see what role Manchester United fans had in the incidents."

UEFA are not expected to make a decision until after Easter.