Sixteen charged after OT clashes

April 11, 2007

HAUNTED: Roma fans caught up in trouble outside the ground.

HAUNTED: Roma fans caught up in trouble outside the ground. 1/19 Play Slideshow

SIXTEEN fans have been charged with various offences following the violent clashes at the Champions League tie between Manchester United and Roma.

Four Italian supporters appeared at Manchester City Magistrates’ Court, while 12 English fans have been bailed to attend Trafford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 18, Greater Manchester Police said.

Hundreds of supporters were caught up in ugly scenes outside Old Trafford before Tuesday’s game as a stand-off ensued between rival fans, who were separated by police and dog handlers.

Police said one man is being questioned at Swinton police station regarding public order offences, while a 25-year-old man from Chorlton has been bailed on suspicion of breaching a football banning order. The remaining three men who were detained were released without charge.

Police arrested 21 supporters - 14 English and seven Italian - which marred United’s 7-1 quarter-final second leg victory.

Trouble

The first signs of trouble were said to have been triggered about two hours before kick-off when up to 30 Manchester United fans, clad in black, attempted to charge through the police segregation line.

Witnesses said a firework was fired by Italian fans as bottles were then hurled between rival groups at the front entrance of the stadium in Sir Matt Busby Way.

Several Roma supporters criticised the delay in getting them into the stadium after many had arrived nearly three hours before kick-off. Some claimed that Old Trafford club officials refused their requests to go inside before home fans began gathering.

Sean Bones, spokesman of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, said it “may have been wise” to have let the Italian supporters into the ground early before home fans gathered en masse.

He said: “The police said they dealt with a few small, isolated incidents and there was nothing on the scale of what happened to Manchester United fans in Rome last week.

"In hindsight, it may have been wise to let the Roma fans into the ground early, but that is obviously something the club and the police will think about in the future.”

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Showing comments 1 to 14 and replies | View All

redmark, manchester (11/04/2007 at 11:09)

But nothing like the beating utd fans took in rome?????
i saw the police our police wading in with batons so lets not blame our own fans.

cheeseyrimmer1, tameside (11/04/2007 at 11:25)

I HOPE THAT THESE IDIOTS,ARE BANNED FOR LIFE.THERE`S NO PLACE IN THE GAME FOR THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE.WE DONT NEED THUGS,TO SUPPORT OUR GREAT TEAM.WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT,ALL ENERGY SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON GETTING BEHIND THE TEAM.WE PROVED LAST NIGHT THAT WE ARE THE BEST IN MANCHESTER.WELL DONE LADS.ONE THAT WONT BE FORGOT.THANKS

alvinlwh (11/04/2007 at 11:47)

I knew there will be a blood bath yesterday which is why I advised the people in my office (at Trafford House on Chester Road) to leave early. And I was correct! The gangs are gathering since lunch time, and I can see them from my office window. Left at 5:30pm on the dot to avoid them. Got home in time to watch them having fun on tv instead.

Sam Anderson (11/04/2007 at 11:52)

There is always some idiot(s) who ruin it for the rest. Well done, I hope you are proud for shaming our city.

J Sheldon (11/04/2007 at 12:04)

It is about time that searching arrangements were better planned. Frustration and congestion is not a good mix and creates flash points. While not commenting about the behaviour of Italian police. It would be possible to view the behaviour of at least one police officer here as excessive. It was the holding of one person with one hand and what appears to be a continuous striking of the back of that persons legs. Quite what that was meant to achieve is beyond me.

stuart malcolm (11/04/2007 at 12:09)

AC Milan - It's all set up for the Semis if Milan prevail tonight! Come to think of it the Bavarians are still a bit iffy towards the Reds - I wonder why?

Mr Manchester (11/04/2007 at 12:25)

Quite right, redmark. The sight of the Italian fans --unfurling their Ultras banner whilst giving Nazi salutes -- was a terrible reflection on the calibre of some of the Roma supporters. Delighted they've left the city, resoundly beaten on the pitch.

hodie, wiltshire (11/04/2007 at 12:36)

What a lot of media hype about the violence. The people who caused it are an idiotic minority and in no way represent the 76,000+ fans who attend regularly. They deserve to be banned. However I have experienced far worse at Elland Road and, more recently at Anfield. The latter never made headline news. I wonder why?

george (11/04/2007 at 12:42)

You got the feeling the media were looking for this story.Let the football do the talking.

ocnorb, wythenshawe (11/04/2007 at 12:44)

why is it when there is an alcohol ban on the streets of trafford are people allowed to drink bottles and cans of beer on the streets near old trafford, also i was sat in the stretford end recently and fans were drinking bottles and cans of beer in seats at the top tier ? , obviously police and stewards cannot be bothered upholding the law

AngryMcNasty, Manchester (11/04/2007 at 13:40)

Mr Manchester, what nonsense to say that it was Roma fans unfurlling an ultras banner and giving nazi salutes! you are either making that up or do not know what you are talking about. Roma fans are strongly left wing as opposed to there rivals Lazio who have right wing/neo Nazi ties. As for unfurlling a flag - that what all fans do. From what I saw there was very little trouble, the Roma fans congregated where they were supposed to - outside their turnstiles, and then about 30 of Manchester United hooligan firm, known as the "Men in Black" because of their choice of dress, attacked/confronted them - the confrontation last merely seconds before the Police quickly stopped it - mountain out of a molehill!

Steve in Brussels (11/04/2007 at 14:25)

It was always going to kick off a bit in revenge for the police in ROme and the "Ultras" mistakenly thought they could go to Manchester and rule. To answer the question posted by someone - the knee bends naturally, so if someone is hit in the right place on the back of the legs the person will go to their knees and be easier to restrain or arrest. Compare that to repeatedly striking the head with a truncheon that risks serious head injury and brain trauma. It is a way to neutralise someone without risk of any injury other than a bruised leg.

The_umpire, Salford, Lancashire (11/04/2007 at 14:29)

The men in Black and especially the idiot whom appeared on TV straight at the camera for Channel 5. Well your famous and someone will know who you are and will report you for the offence and I personally hope they throw the book at you.

The police officer who was using his baton across the back of the legs was the correct procedure go to Roma where they were using their batons across the heads, Arms, backs basically anywhere.

let us not forget that people were hurt last night and that is not what we what to see in the game in the UK, but, in the long, it is time that these so called football fans who cause all the problems are jailed and deported if it was possible out of the UK for life!!

grandmabubble, Levenshulme Manchester (11/04/2007 at 15:19)

I hope those "fans" are banned from any kind of football match for at least 4 years. There is no room for this kind of thuggery if it tars proper football supporters with the same brush.Let's not forget that "fan" is also an abbreviation of fanatic.

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