Serious clashes broke out in central Naples between Eintracht Frankfurt fans and police ahead of the German team’s Champions League match against Napoli on Wednesday.
Car windows were smashed and fans hurled flares, chairs and other objects as innocent bystanders took refuge in bars and restaurants. A police car and other vehicles were set on fire.
Police in riot gear eventually managed to defuse the situation, herding fans onto buses to take them to their hotels.
Further clashes were avoided as most of Napoli’s “ultras” were prevented from coming into contact with German fans. However, stones and bottles were thrown at the buses.
The Serie A leaders won the game against Frankfurt 3-0 to advance 5-0 on aggregate to the Champions League quarterfinals.
Police had been on high alert in the Italian city (around 800 officers had been deployed) when more than 600 people arrived from Germany despite Frankfurt giving up their allotment of tickets for the round of 16 second leg in protest. That number was further boosted by Atalanta’s “ultras”, who have a bitter rivalry with Napoli.
“These are not fanatics, they are criminals, thugs. I wonder if they would make the same mess in Germany.” Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini wrote on Instagram, expressing his “full support” for police on the ground.
Fans of both teams clashed before the first leg in Frankfurt with police calling the game high risk.
The German club opposed the decision of the local authorities in Naples to prohibit the purchase of tickets for fans residing in Frankfurt, after riots between fans during the first leg in Germany.
Napoli won that match 2-0, but local police made several arrests amid altercations between fans.
Information from the Associated Press and Reuters was used in this story.
