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Police injured as Lazio's 119th anniversary celebrations turn violent

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
Police injured as Lazio's 119th anniversary celebrations turn violent
File Photo: Andreas Solaro/AFP

Eight police officers were injured after celebrations to mark Lazio's 119th anniversary in the centre of Rome turned violent.

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The skirmishes took place at Piazza della Liberta in the centre of the Italian capital where up to 2,500 Lazio fans gathered late Tuesday at the site of the club's foundation, police told Italian media today.

The gathering had also been attended by the club's president Claudio Lotito who addressed the crowd but left before tensions mounted.

Shortly after midnight, an estimated 300 fans, with their faces covered, broke away from the main group and began throwing bottles and other objects at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

Police said eight officers had injuries, mostly with cuts and bruising.

One fan was arrested and three others detained, all with links to the club's notorious 'Ultra' fans.

All will receive DASPO Urbano exclusion orders, a 'Sports Event Access Ban'.

Tensions are running high in Italian football after violent clashes before Inter Milan's league game against Napoli on December 26 in the San Siro, which was also overshadowed by racist chanting. A 39-year-old Inter Milan fan was killed after being struck by a car before the match.

There were also clashes in Rome before Lazio's Europa League game against German club Eintracht Frankfurt last month.

Lazio were founded at Piazza della Liberta on January 9th, 1900, by a group of army officers. 

In 2017, The Local reported on the scandal of Lazio fans abusing the memory of Anne Frank.

The Lazio 'ultras' have previously been in hot water over anti-Semitic gestures, Celtic crosses, monkey chants and fascist salutes, leading to them often being seen as a far-right club.  

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