Two men from Rome have been arrested after a Liverpool fan was attacked shortly before the football club’s Champions League semi-final home match against Roma last night.
The 53-year-old victim suffered a serious head injury and is now fighting for his life at the city’s Walton Neurological Centre, according to Merseyside Police.
Emergency services were called to the Albert pub, near the Kop end of Liverpool’s Anfield stadium, after the two sets of fans clashed” shortly before kick-off, says The Daily Telegraph.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Det Insp Paul Speight said witnesses “report that the victim was hit with a belt and then fell to the ground”.
The two suspects, aged 25 and 26, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The pair, one of whom was apprehended inside the ground, were among a total of nine men arrested on suspicion of various offences, “including affray, actual bodily harm and possession of offensive weapons, among others”, reports The Guardian.
BBC Sport’s David Ornstein said the trouble started when a “group of Roma fans arrived via Venmore Street, burst on to Walton Breck Road and attacked, many using belts”.
Liverpool fans claim that up to 20 Roma supporters charged at them and began lashing out. Student Ryan Ellis, 22, said: “It was horrible to see, some had bats and others were swinging at people with belts with buckles out.”
BBC Sport footage showed one fan carrying a hammer, the broadcaster reports.
Liverpool FC said it was “shocked and appalled” and would be offering the seriously injured fan and his family “our full support”.
Police are calling for other witnesses to come forward.
