Napoli Fan Suffers Gunshot Wound after Violent Clashes Ahead of Coppa Italia Final
By Daily Mail UK, 30 April 2014
A football supporter and a plainclothes police officer have been wounded by gunshots during violent clashes in Rome, according to reports in Italy.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claims four people have been injured in total, with a plain clothes police officer also suffering a gunshot wound. The wounded man is believed to be a Napoli supporter, after they were ambushed by what was initially thought to be Roma Ultras, but is instead opportunistic criminals taking advantage of the situation, according to Italian police.
The violence caused a lengthy delay to the Coppa Italia final. Napoli and Fiorentina were meant to kick off at 8pm but there were lengthy discussions between club officials, police and fans about whether to play. Napoli captain Marek Hamsik was even speaking with members of the Napoli Ultras to try and resolve the situation, before it was agreed that the game would go ahead at 8.45pm.
Wounded: A Napoli supporter suffered a gunshot wound after fans clashes, according to reports in Italy
Violence: Napoli fans clash with police ahead of the Coppa Italia final
Italian media sources reported a number of conflicting statements about the violence in the Tor di Quinto area of Rome.
TV station TG1 claim the gun was fired by a shopkeeper who was 'scared' by the Ultras, while newspaper La Repubblica say it might have been a nailbomb rather than a gunshot which caused the injury.
There are claims that it a 31-year-old man suffered two wounds to his arms and though he was rushed to hospital to undergo surgery, the wounds are not thought to be life-threatening.
Chaos: Italian news sources are reporting a number of conflicting things
Flares: Napoli fans throw flares ahead of kick off
Discussions: Napoli captain Marek Hamsik even spoke to Napoli Ultras to see if the game would go ahead or not
News Agency Ansa also report that a 43-year-old plain clothes police officer was shot in the hand.
There was also a separate incident in Rieti, where a group of Fiorentina fans on their way to the final were attacked by Napoli supporters at a motorway service station - three men were treated for minor injuries.
Italian Police later confirmed the shootings were not linked to football, but instead were criminals taking advantage of the situation.
There has been chaos in the city all day, with huge traffic jams reported after 60,000 Fiorentina and Roma fans descended on the city.