Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 6y

Two arrested after Chelsea fans attacked in Rome ahead of UCL match

Two people were arrested after Roma fans launched what appeared to be a planned attack on Chelsea fans at a Rome bar on Monday night ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game.

The incident happened at the Shamrock pub when a group armed with poles and baseball bats sparked clashes outside the building.

A statement from Rome police, published by Il Messaggero, said those arrested belonged to the Fedayn group of ultra fans.

The owner of the bar, Alessandro Corbellini, said: "We thought it was a terrorist attack, so much so that many clients threw themselves behind the bar for cover.

"We didn't realise that, outside, there were a group of Roma ultras."

Police said some people had suffered minor injuries, none of which required hospital treatment, and that most of the violence had taken place outside the bar.

Meanwhile, officers in Ukraine said 52 people had been detained after violence ahead of the Champions League game between Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord.

Police said they arrived at a bar in the city of Kharkiv where "a conflict had occurred between Dutch and Ukrainian fans."

Windows at the bar were broken and the interior was damaged.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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