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Feyenoord trash Rome

February 20, 2015

Hundreds of fans of Dutch club Feyenoord clashed with police and damaged landmarks in Rome, ahead of their team's Europa League tie. The violence came just days after a racist attack by Chelsea football fans in Paris.

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Rotterdam Hooligans in Rom
Image: Reuters/Nardi

A group of 28 Feyenoord fans have been arrested in Rome, and many of them charged, after violence erupted before the Dutch side's clash with Serie A club AS Roma.

On Thursday, hundreds of Feyenoord fans clashed with police at the city's iconic Spanish Steps monument, prompting police to fire tear gas. The fans left the nearby 400-year-old Barcaccia fountain full of empty beer bottles and trash. Media also reported that the fans had urinated in the fountain.

The violence started on Wednesday night, after Feyenoord fans damaged buildings in Rome and threw bottles at riot police. Italian police confirmed they had arrested six Dutch nationals that night, confiscating truncheons and broken bottles. Judicial sources said a further 22 people were arrested on Thursday, with four to be dealt with by magistrates next week.

Rotterdam Hooligans in Rom
Damage to the Barcaccia fountain comes just 5 months after its restoration.Image: Reuters/Nardi

"Rome has been violated today," local government councillor Paolo Masini said in a statement on Thursday, describing tourists holed up in hotels and nearby windows shuttered. "This is pure and simple hooliganism."

Who foots the bill?

Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, called on the club or Dutch authorities to foot the bill for the damage.

"Whoever breaks it, should fix it," Marino told RAI state TV on Friday. "Someone has to accept responsibility - either the football club or the Netherlands."

Feyenoord general manager Eric Gudde condemned the actions of the supporters, but said the good behavior of other Feyenoord fans at the Olympic Stadium during the game also shouldn't be forgotten.

The incident comes just two days after Chelsea fans were involved in a racist attack on a Paris metro train, directed at a black civilian. The attack was condemned by FIFA president Sepp Blatter via Twitter.

The final scoreline in the Feyenoord vs. AS Roma game, which saw a goal scored in each half, was 1-1.

apc/al (AFP, dpa)