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Prince and PM back champions in European final
Nick Pisa in Rome27.05.09
Prince William will be cheering on Manchester United tonight in their Champions League final against Barcelona.
He has been invited to the match in Rome's Olympic Stadium by the Football Association in his capacity as the organisation's president.
William is supporting England's 2018 World Cup bid and prepared a video message for last week's official campaign launch. A spokesman for William's office at St James's Palace said: “The Prince will meet key officials and dignitaries in private before the match, during half-time and after the match.”
One of William's aides said: “Although he is an Aston Villa fan he is hoping Manchester United win.”
Gordon Brown is also backing United and will watch the game on television, his Downing Street spokesman confirmed. ITV said it expected an audience of 15 million.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Manchester United fans were partying in Rome preparing for the final.
More than 30,000 supporters have arrived for the match, which gives the team the chance to be the first to hold onto the title since the league began in 1992-93.
At least 15 million people are expected to watch on television in Britain, and tens of millions more around the world.
Police launched a massive security operation in Rome and said the atmosphere was largely friendly.
But one English fan has been stabbed and treated in hospital.
Greg Wheldon, 34, suffered a knife wound to his left leg after being set upon as he walked to his hotel near the Vatican in the early hours of today. He was treated at the nearby Santo Spirito hospital and then released.
Although it is not known who his attackers were, the style is similar to the buttocks or upper thigh-slashing which is a trademark of Roma's notorious Ultras. The injury is painful and uncomfortable but not life threatening.
Police also said that Peter Leech, 45, and his son Jordan, 19, were held after attempting to resist arrest in the Campo di Fiori square in the centre of Rome last night.
They were taken to the city's Regina Coeili jail and were due to appear before magistrates here later today in a fast-track hearing. Two other Britons who were not named were also held after they tried to pay for a €300 meal in the Café de Paris in Via Veneto with fake banknotes.
Some 10,000 Manchester United fans arrived in Rome without tickets, and seats for the game have been changing hands for up to £2,000.
More than 1,500 police and paramilitary carabinieri are on duty with uniformed officers from Manchester.
Some fans headed for a campsite on the outskirts of Rome which has two giant screens to watch the match.
Soldier Carl Black, 39, and RAF pilot Jez Marsden, 37, had driven from Grantham and were without tickets.
Mr Marsden said: “My girlfriend was a bit worried about me coming here but we will be keeping away from any trouble and if we can't get a ticket we won't even go into town.”
Reader views (12)
I am running a book on how many times Ronaldo will fall onto his arse during the game. Currently running at 20 - 24, with buyers everywhere!!!!!!
- Steve, London
ok so a little bit of trouble aside(up to 100.000 people converging on Rome)this is definetly the one to watch and thank goodness its on terrestrial...just poppin'out for my beer...
it will show those NKorean mad hatters we have better things on our minds! come on Ronaldo!
- Serafim, london
I always wondered what happened to Terry Nutkins.
- Paul Smith, harpenden
the result doesn-t interest me as long as it is a great game.
Rome is the last place for the final.
I do wonder though, don-t some of the players, hype up the war with their nasty comment to journalists prior to the game?
- Jaberwokie, Switzerland
Typical of Italians attack from behind with superior numbers.I also would not trust the police in this city,it was only last year that they waded into innocent supporters including elderly people,if the British Police acted in this way it would be the last time any major final would be played in this country.Hooliganism is rife in Italy and the choice of Rome as a venue is disgraceful.On the whole hooliganism has been stamped out in England but alas the reputation of the past is still seen as a challenge to these pathetic Ultra groups who seem to attack innocent football supporters,tooled up and in numbers knowing they will get little or no resistance.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand
That didn't take long, wait for after the game.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Can someone please explain why on earth the final is being held in Rome? The Italian's have a serious football hooligan problem which needs addressing.
- Rob Gooner, North London
FYI Brag. Last year in Moscow fans behaved perfectly & there was no trouble or arrests in Moscow. So forget the media slander & propaganda against Chelsea, Utd & English teams. Some of our fans can behave abroad. Scousers seem to struggle with that see brick throwing in Turke & no of arrests made each year
- Jk, London
Trouble already, no surprise then.We know what will happen after the game, drunken louts will be fighting each other and the police, we will see tearful louts complaining of 'over reaction' from the police, same old story with soccer games.
- Billy Brag, Liverpool, UK
Sympathies & wishes to Geoff. Although why UEFA insist on choosing finals in appropriate locations. Moscow was extortionate for fans who travelled. Now fans cant drink & are fearful of ultras. No doubt Platini & Blatter will blame the English.
- Jk, London
man utd will win barca by 3goals to zero.christiano will net 2 and any order player will also net 1.man utd forever, we are the red devils the unstoppable team in the world from rutherford awuah baffour
- Awuah Baffour Rutherford, accra ghana
Roma ultras are pathetic and have little pride or bottle.
- Terry Nutkins, London
