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UEFA won't move final away from Rome after fan attack

Andrew Hodgson
12 Mar 2009


UEFA said today that the Champions League Final will not be moving away from Rome and argued that finding another venue at this stage will put supporters at more of a risk.

An Arsenal fan suffered a suspected stab wound in a clash with hooligans before last night's game against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, the venue for this year's final on 27 May.

The incident led to speculation the showpiece could be moved to another city, but UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said today: "Moving to another place would probably put these arrangements in danger so it wouldn't be safer, it would be less safe."

The British Embassy in Rome said last night's victim was travelling on a minibus when it lost its way near the stadium and was ambushed by rival fans.

An embassy spokesman said the injured man managed to make his way into the stadium where he was treated for a bleeding leg.

Arsenal fans were warned before the game, which the Gunners won on penalties to eliminate the hosts from the competition, to avoid certain areas of the city because of fears there could be trouble with Roma's notorious hardcore fans, or 'ultras'. There were also claims from Mark Bright, who was covering the match for BBC Radio 5Live, that fans were sitting in gangways and stewards did nothing to clear emergency exits.

It was not the first time fans have been hurt in the Italian capital, with Manchester United supporters twice targeted over the last two seasons.

That led UEFA president Michel Platini to warn earlier this season the final could be moved should such violent incidents continue.

However, Gaillard today said that was unlikely to happen.

"We will review arrangements with the Italian police," he said. "We will have a larger number of police present, as we did in Moscow last year, and more stewards for visiting fans.

"It will be a different situation in which it will be a neutral venue.

"We take it seriously because a fan was injured and there is no way we would take it for granted that everyone will be fine.

"We will be in a completely different context for the final and the special measures we are putting in place should ensure we have a good venue for the fans."

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well it doesn't really matter because once again there are no Italian teams left in the cup

- Kerry Trubee, purley, 12/03/2009 17:51
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