2007 AS Roma-Manchester United conflict

The 2007 AS Roma–Manchester United conflict occurred on 4 April 2007 at the Stadio Olimpico during the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League quarter-final match between AS Roma and Manchester United. In the conflict, missiles were thrown over a perspex barrier separating the two sets of supporters, which prompted the Italian riot police to enter and attempt to subdue the hostile crowd. The incident has been controversial, as the police and team supporters on both sides view the causes of and reactions to the melee differently.

Incidents in Rome

Before the match began, riot police positioned themselves only on the Manchester United side of the perspex barrier between the fans.Fact|date=September 2007 After Roma scored their first goal, their fans were allegedly throwing missiles over the barrier into the Manchester United fans.Fact|date=September 2007 After this, reports claim that a section of Manchester United fans pushed around the Stadio Olimpico ground stewards; as a result of this the riot police moved in to gain control of the United crowd. [" [http://www.24.com/sport/?p=SportArticle&i=477137 Rome officials defend police] " 24.com]

The following police action has resulted in Manchester United accusing the Italian police of "hand [ing] out indiscriminate beatings to United supporters" and encouraged witnesses to contact them. [" [http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=417063 Club Seeks Rome Fan Reports] ", manutd.com, 5 April 2007. URL accessed on 5 April 2007.] [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6530157.stm Rome police chief defends action] " BBC] Many Manchester United supporters and the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association have also claimed the police response was disproportionate and indiscriminate, and that they had targeted the Manchester United supporters. [" [http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2050849,00.html United accuse Italian police of 'serious over-reaction'] ", Guardian Unlimited, 5 April 2007. URL accessed on 5 April 2007.] [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6528597.stm Injured fans vent anger at police] ", BBC News, 5 April 2007. URL accessed on 5 April 2007.] Eleven Manchester United supporters and two Roma supporters were taken to hospital following the violence. UEFA have launched an investigation and Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker has said that answers were needed into whether or not Italian police had been brutal. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6530157.stm Answers on Rome clashes demanded] ", BBC News, 5 April 2007. URL accessed on 5 April 2007.]

Amnesty International has also backed calls for an inquiry. Achille Serra, head of Rome Police, said the police action was a 'justified response', and said there would be no inquiry unless there were evidence of any alleged police brutality. Italian Football Federation President Giancarlo Abete has also defended the policemen on duty at the ground. Psychologist Clifford Stott attended the match and was critical of the Italian police, adding "One way of looking at it is that the Italian fans use violence against English fans to provoke the police to have a go at them." [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6525795.stm Football advice provokes Italian anger] ", BBC News, 4 April 2007. URL accessed on 5 April 2007.] Footage filmed by United supporters was used as evidence of unfair treatment, including a recording of one female fan being attacked without provocation. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2--bs4OEiIg Footage of a female fan having camera snatched and being hit] This film later resulted in an apology to the fan involved from Roma players.

Before the match, Manchester United issued warnings to its supporters that they could be attacked, highlighting areas that should be avoided in the city, where hardcore Roma fans, known as ultras may congregate. This warning was viewed as derogative by some in Rome, including Rome's mayor, Walter Veltroni, who said it was "dangerous because it risks creating a negative climate". [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6524735.stm Rome mayor attacks Man Utd fears] ", BBC News, 4 April 2007. URL accessed on 5 April 2007.]

Five people (three English and two Italians) were also injured as they made their way to the stadium.

The Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato has since admitted that the police inside the ground were a little excessive in their use of batons on some of the United fans, but has called for people not to judge the entire Italian police force by the actions of those involved in this incident. [ [http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB069%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=420226 Minister appeals to fans] ]

The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMUSA) has demanded an apology from the Italian police, and has said those fans injured should be compensated, and are prepared to take legal action. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6587449.stm United fans want Italian apology] ] The fans of both Manchester United and AC Milan were praised by the Manchester police following their Champions League semi-final match on 24 April 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6590641.stm Fans praised after United match] ]

On 25 April 2007, UEFA released a statement regarding the sentence for both teams. Roma were fined CHF75,000 (€47,700/£31,100) while Manchester United were fined CHF35,500 (€21,300/£14,500). Both teams have three days from the date of receipt of the written grounds for the decision. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=531434.html Roma and United made to pay] ]

Incidents in Manchester

In the return leg, which was played at Manchester United's Old Trafford; police beat Roma fans with batons and brought out police horses and dogs [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6538695.stm BBC.co.uk] ] after Roma and United fans had thrown bottles at each other outside of the ground before the game. There were 14 English fans arrested along with seven Italians.

British Sports Minister Richard Caborn was quoted as saying "It's unfortunate that there have been some scuffles outside Old Trafford. This was always going to be a highly-charged game following the incident last week. Greater Manchester Police have used proportionate force in a potentially difficult situation and have handled it well." Reports from police spokespersons said that they were "required to deal with a number of small and isolated incidents" and that the trouble was "contained within five minutes".

Post-conflict events

In the season following the conflicts, Roma were once again set to play Manchester United. Roma club captain Francesco Totti sought to diffuse any potential tensions by making a personal video apology to a female United fan, Carly Lyes, who was caught up in the clash between police and United fans." [http://football.guardian.co.uk/championsleague200708/story/0,,2180930,00.html Totti in peace offering ahead of Old Trafford tie] ", Guardian.co.uk, 1 October 2007.]

Totti's message was well received by Lyes, but the fan pointed out that it was the police, Roma officials, and UEFA who should be apologising for the events of that night, not the playing staff." [http://football.guardian.co.uk/championsleague200708/story/0,,2180930,00.html Totti in peace offering ahead of Old Trafford tie] ", Guardian.co.uk, 1 October 2007.]

Related incidents

Earlier in the competition, Manchester United fans were involved in an incident in Lens, France in February 2007 during a first-round match between Lille OSC and Manchester United. As the stadium began to fill, too many Manchester United fans were directed to the away stand which couldn't facilitate them, causing a massive build-up of people. Amidst fears of a Hillsborough-like incidentFact|date=September 2007, fans attempted to climb over the metal fencing surrounding the away section. Riot police saw the attempts as a pitch invasion and fired tear gas into the crowd, which prompted criticism of their handling of the situation. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/22/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Lille-Crowd-Trouble.php Lille blames Man United for crowd trouble] ]

In 2006, three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and 10 others injured during fights with Roma fans in a UEFA Cup quarter-final match. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6528049.stm Fans in hospital after violence] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/4808246.stm English fans are stabbed in Rome] ]

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