Epaphrodite Nsengimana
The Champions League round of 16 second-leg match between Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt was marred by violence as fans clashed with police in ugly scenes in Naples before the game.
Over 600 Frankfurt fans are believed to have descended on the Italian city despite being barred from attending the second leg after unsavoury incidents between supporters occurred before the first game in Germany last month.
Police cars and other vehicles were set alight as fans threw flares. Other missiles, including chairs, were launched as the trouble intensified, with innocent bystanders forced to take refuge in bars and restaurants.
Police in riot gear eventually managed to calm the situation, herding the fans onto buses to take them to their hotels.
Further clashes were avoided as the majority of Napoli “ultras” were prevented from coming into contact with the German fans, although they did throw stones and bottles at the buses.
Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister, wrote on Instagram: “These are not fans, they are criminals, thugs. I wonder if they would make the same mess in Germany?”
