Roma fans warned by UEFA: Misbehave and you’ll lose the final

By: Rob | March 31st, 2008

Violence in Rome for Man United fans Busy news day today as excitement hots up for tomorrow’s QF’s, i kept this seperate from my news snippets post as I thought it the most interesting story. Last year in Rome there was a nasty bit of confused horror which lead to some horrible violence. As Manchester United return, Roma’s Ultras have been warned if there’s trouble, they won’t get to host next years Champions League final afterall.

According to the article, UEFA’s ~~spin doctor~~ communications officer has said that UEFA are serious about moving the final (due to be held in Rome in 2009) even on this short notice:

“The situation inside the stadium has improved dramatically and we hope it will go well tomorrow and there are no reasons to expect problems inside the stadium,” he said.

“But we cannot afford to organise the final of the Champions League in a city where people are getting knifed every game.

“We will be watching and we are serious that if we have incidents like when Manchester United visited last year or Real Madrid last month, then we would have to reconsider our decision for the 2009 final.”

Gaillard added: “We cannot have responsibility for bringing 40,000 people to the final and risk them being knifed in the city.

“We will be watching closely tomorrow and the rest of the season and next season. The police have to do their job.

“It’s a fantastic venue and a beautiful city, and we realise these people have nothing to do with football, but if fans are afraid and it’s dangerous we will have to look at the whole matter.”

Italian football has been getting in trouble alot with the ‘Ultra’ supporters of alot of the sides recently, and while the ‘knifed every game’ is a bit of an exagerration, no-one wants to see a repeat of last years nastiness in Roma and it is nice that UEFA are preparred to stand up and reprimand the hooligans in some way, though it seems a bit unfair on the people of Rome who go to matches just to watch the football, that they should loose a prestigious event just because they share a city with some crazies. Its that age old problem isn’t it, and one that football would be better off without. Whether it works or not, time will tell I suppose, but even if the final doesn’t take place in Rome, presumably Wembley won’t be first in line to replace it.