Moral of the story: If you are to play Man U, play them in a neutral venue, preferably with valet parking. And get Sir Alex Ferguson to personally inspect the stadium and screen the fans. Because outside of Old Trafford, it is a cruel and inhospitable world. A bit snarky but you do get spoiled playing in that shiny new venue, slumming with investment banker blokes, who think nothing of coughing up £100 for tickets. The rest of the world pays £10, plays in municipal stadiums, and has rough neighbourhoods. Surprise! Surprise!
Man Utd issues a travel advisory to its fans. Travel advisories like the ones that the US State Deptt issues to tourists who want to travel to Kandahar or Aceh. Of course, this does not go down well with the Romans. They too were a civilization once.
So is it any surprise that these self fulfilling prophecies get carried out? The Man U fans come over, having pissed on Roma and Rome, watch ticket less, get drunk and incensed as their team loses the game, pick up fights with the Roma fans, hurl chairs and beer bottles, and then get set on by the Italian police. Some get beaten and some are chased by the Ultras. In the US, the Man U fans would have been tasered. You don’t get bloodied but you do lose bowel control.
Meanwhile, the travel advisories Man U issues to their fans will keep growing. It should cover most of Europe in the near future and some in England as well. Be sure to keep checking the website regularly and keep a watch out for the new soccer theme park. Take advantage of the new Man U Mastercard, available at a discounted APR of 3.99%. And oh, by the way, ticket prices go up December 1st to £200. Season holders will get a chance to win an exciting all expenses paid vacation on a luxury cruise line to Rome and the Dalmatian coast.
7 comments on “Lille and now Roma: Coincidence? Man U fans cry foul”
“The rest of the world pays £10, plays in municipal stadiums, and has rough neighbourhoods” – Safe to assume the writer of this article has never been to Manchester then!
“Man Utd issues a travel advisory to its fans. Travel advisories like the ones that the US State Deptt issues to tourists who want to travel to Kandahar or Aceh” – How many Middlesboro fans were murdered when they were in Rome last year? Shame on Man U for having the well being of their fans at heart.
“Man U fans come over, having pissed on Roma and Rome” – Care to elaborate on this oberservation dear writer?
Uninformed nonsensical drivel
At http://www.youtube.com is the video of Ireland vs. England at Landsowne Rd from the early to mid nineties, it is rather clear who the troublemakers there were. I’ve read “Among the thugs” which I don’t really recommend and I’ve read other Hoolie books like the Bill Gardner ones. Roma defeated Lyons there and I didn’t hear much; it looks like the Red Army aren’t obviously at fault here but pairing up these two teams can obviously be a powderkeg type of situation.
Man U has every right to be protective of its fans. But it is different when it comes out on the official website. There are other channels including fan sites that can voice concerns about potential violence and suggest measures.
I am not a Manu supporter (I’m a gunner) but I don’t think you’re being entirely fair here. Neither am I English (I’m Brazilian-Italian).
You never refer to the fact that the Italian police were stationed from the very start ONLY on the Manu section of the stadium. They seemed prepared for any pretext to attack the Manufans. Both sets of fans got violent — why did the police single out ONLY the Manu fans? Why is it that only Manu fans are in the hospital with stab wounds from ultras, injuries from police beatings, a 60 year old man bloodied on the ground offering no resistance while Italian police pummel him repeatedly with batons?
The Italian police were totally out of control and let the Roma fans run free attacking Manu fans. And why do you seem to believe that it was the Manu fans who initiated everything, and were the only ones responsible? Independent reports clearly said that the ruckus in the stadium started after Roma’s first goal from the Roma side of the barrier. The travel advisory was ill-advised but frankly, having lived in Italy for over 3 years (a year of it in Rome), I agreed with the sentiment entirely.
Finally, I can’t imagine English police beating on foreign fans EXCLUSIVELY while English fans are also clearly on the rampage.
I am not a Manu supporter (I’m a gunner) but I don’t think you’re being entirely fair here. Neither am I English (I’m Brazilian-Italian).
You never refer to the fact that the Italian police were stationed from the very start ONLY on the Manu section of the stadium. They seemed prepared for any pretext to attack the Manufans. Both sets of fans got violent — why did the police single out ONLY the Manu fans? Why is it that only Manu fans are in the hospital with stab wounds from ultras, injuries from police beatings, a 60 year old man bloodied on the ground offering no resistance while Italian police pummel him repeatedly with batons?
The Italian police were totally out of control and let the Roma fans run free attacking Manu fans. And why do you seem to believe that it was the Manu fans who initiated everything, and were the only ones responsible? Independent reports clearly said that the ruckus in the stadium started after Roma’s first goal from the Roma side of the barrier. The travel advisory was ill-advised but frankly, having lived in Italy for over 3 years (a year of it in Rome), I agreed with the sentiment entirely.
Finally, I can’t imagine English police beating on foreign fans EXCLUSIVELY while English fans are also clearly on the rampage.
“Uninformed nonsensical drivel”
That’s spot on!!! The Italian league needs to be banned from ALL EUROPEAN COMPETITION until each ground is cleaned up and brought up to proper code. England was barred from European competition for years throughout the 80’s and they’ve spent millions of pounds reforming the grounds, terracing, and the like in order to provide the safest environment for its fans and visitors.
The Italian FA is a piss-poor operation. Even the demotion of Juventus to Serie B is comical as they reduced their 30-point penalty on the heels of the match fixing scandal last summer.
England always gets blamed for these acts based on events in the past, however they’ve paid their penalties and they’ve come out better. I would like to see UEFA banish the Italian sides from all European competition until similar standards set by England has been met.
The Old Bill have never treated any fans, foreign or domestic with any great abuse in recent memory.
The main reason I’m not a Manchester U fan, is basically, that like the LA Lakers or Dallas Cowboys, they have lots of bandwagon fans like the other 3 top teams . And clearly, the booze culture had a lot to do with escapades in the past.
These two incidences have tainted the remaining games.