Two men arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at Liverpool-Roma match

A 53-year-old Reds fan in a critical condition after being attacked outside Anfield

Liverpool Roma Champions League Football
Liverpool fans light flares outside the stadium ahead of the match on Tuesday
(Image credit: 2018 Chris Brunskill Ltd)

Two men from Rome have been arrested after a Liverpool fan was attacked shortly before the football club’s Champions League semi-final home match against Roma last night.

The 53-year-old victim suffered a serious head injury and is now fighting for his life at the city’s Walton Neurological Centre, according to Merseyside Police.

Emergency services were called to the Albert pub, near the Kop end of Liverpool’s Anfield stadium, after the two sets of fans clashed” shortly before kick-off, says The Daily Telegraph.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Det Insp Paul Speight said witnesses “report that the victim was hit with a belt and then fell to the ground”.

The two suspects, aged 25 and 26, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The pair, one of whom was apprehended inside the ground, were among a total of nine men arrested on suspicion of various offences, “including affray, actual bodily harm and possession of offensive weapons, among others”, reports The Guardian.

BBC Sport’s David Ornstein said the trouble started when a “group of Roma fans arrived via Venmore Street, burst on to Walton Breck Road and attacked, many using belts”.

Liverpool fans claim that up to 20 Roma supporters charged at them and began lashing out. Student Ryan Ellis, 22, said: “It was horrible to see, some had bats and others were swinging at people with belts with buckles out.”

BBC Sport footage showed one fan carrying a hammer, the broadcaster reports.

Liverpool FC said it was “shocked and appalled” and would be offering the seriously injured fan and his family “our full support”.

Police are calling for other witnesses to come forward.

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us