https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/201...ritical-after-assault-outside-liverpool-game/ Alarming that a group of Roma supporters with their face's covered could walk up in front of the stadium with hammers in their hands!! Merseyside Police have announced that two Italian men have been arrested for attempted murder after an assault before Liverpool's Champions League semi-final against Roma at Anfield left a 53-year-old Irish man in a critical condition. Police said that the unnamed man, who was believed to have travelled to the game with his brother, had been attacked outside the ground with a belt and suffered a head injury. They added that the victim's family have been notified and appealed for anyone who may have witnessed the attack or had further information to contact them. They said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that two men, aged 25 and 26 years from Rome, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 53-year-old man was seriously injured before the Champions League semi-final game this evening. "[They] were arrested inside the ground after officers carried out a number of proactive inquiries in a bid to identify those involved in the incident. "Officers were called to the Albert public house at about 7.35pm following reports that a man, believed to be 53 years from Ireland, had been seriously assaulted. "Paramedics attended at the scene and the victim, who suffered a head injury, was taken to Walton Neurological Centre where his condition is described as critical." Liverpool FC issued a statement saying the club was "shocked and appalled". "Our thoughts, in the first instance, are with the victim and his family at this very traumatic time. We will be offering them our full support." Clips posted to Twitter showed clashes between supporters, ambulances in attendance and suggestions that a group of Roma fans had used belts and a hammer as weapons. Merseyside Police later announced that seven other men had been arrested for various offences, including affray, assault, possession of offensive weapons, possession of a controlled drug, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly. There was an increased police presence around the stadium after Manchester City's team bus had its windows smashed by bottles and cans prior to the quarter-final earlier this month. The team arrivals passed with no repeat but there were plenty of red flares, despite specific requests from the authorities not to bring such pyrotechnics. Liverpool fans were even pictured waving flares from the roof of a police van, though with no apparent aggravation. Liverpool City Council had provided police with mobile CCTV prior to the match. Merseyside Police Chief Superintendent Dave Charnock, said: "A number of those in the crowd that had gathered to greet the Liverpool team coach were in possession of flares and work is ongoing to identify those responsible. "The vast majority of the 52,500 fans attending the game were well behaved and went to watch a good game of football. "However, a minority of fans from both Liverpool and Roma were involved in isolated pockets of disorder in the city centre and near to the ground." Anyone with information or mobile phone footage of the disorder was urged to contact police. Mr Charnock said: "We will be reviewing CCTV footage, our own body worn camera footage and working with the club to identify those involved in any of these incidents so we can put them before the courts. "And I would appeal to anyone who has any information, or mobile phone footage, in relation to any of these incidents to contact us. "Finally, I would like to thank the Liverpool Football Club stewards and the police officers who were out on the ground tonight for their hard work and professionalism throughout the evening."
Really sad news, not the first or last time from Roma fans, absolute wankers! I heard someone got stabbed also?
Plenty of pictures and video online of what happened. Mobs of maybe 20-30 Roma fans with hammers and belts attacking people for no reason at all other than being Liverpool fans. Could have been a lot more injured if it wasn't for a group of our's running at them and chasing them away. Police nowhere to be seen.
Just shocked that they were able to walk down the street faces covered with hammers in hand and no stewards or police stopping them. Hope its nobody we know from this community who was involved or injured.
Hopefully the fella pulls through. It really puts things in perspective. He just went to watch a game of football and now he's in critical condition. Really sad that these incidents still occur with all the policing and security around.
Takes the shine off a great night. Hopefully this man makes a full recovery. My thoughts are with him and his family this morning.
Horrible what happened. Prayers are with him. I saw the pictures and one fella had a hammer. I was sure these lads travelled for trouble and nothing else then I heard they actually had tickets and got lifted from inside the away end. UEFA will have to act.
Hope all the lads on here got home safe and sound. Some Eyetie cnut goes into a hardware store in Liverpool and buys a hammer yesterday - what else was he going to do. Just a pity that they werent caught by the crowd before they got into the ground.
How Roma still allow ultras to travel as ticketed away fans is beyond belief! They should be hit with heavy sanctions over this!
Chap is from Dunboyne, its absolutely sickening to think this sort of thing can still happen in this day and age. Uefa will have to throw the book at Roma for letting these animals get tickets.
Poor fella, looking at the video there isnt a Policeman in sight. Only for some Lfc fans chased them away god knows how long it would have went on. Dirty Scum, hope they rot in an English Jail for a long time. Praying the man pulls through.
Hope he pulls through and makes a full recovery - frightening to think this can happen and it could have been any fan enjoying a pint in the Albert.
Does not sound good at all. UEFA hoping the authorities will deal with this. Surely UEFA have got to act themselves.