Police take the chance to be thugs

[Thracian]

Not much said on here yet about the Rome police.

Certainly they had a disturbance to calm but the way they were whacking prostrate fans - and continuing to whack them when they had long ceased to react other to try to protect themselves was a f....g disgrace.

If any of us were to react like that against an intruder or suchlike we'd be locked up like that Martin fellow for over reacting.

Some of those officers should be charged first thing this morning.

There's some on here will defend it - they think the police are in authority and can therefore do no wrong (either because they're in the force themselves or their father's are I imagine) but I think some used it as nothing more than an excuse for authoritarian thuggery.

There's talk about the clubs being punished but I saw little of consequence from the fans except a bit of snarling and squaring up. But officers I watched should be put away for years for sustained attacks like that.

If any fans had done anything like that they'd have been for the high jump and if the same fans had grabbed their batons and knocked seven bells out of the Police in retaliation, what then? You'd have had a full-scale riot and people geting killed..

Some of the fans were only trying to get help for hurt pals for Heaven sake. It was totally indefensible.

Whacking defenceless people. What f.....g heroes. They weren't so good in the War when people could whack em back.

[Daggers]

Maybe they would not have been hit had they not attacked a fence in such an ineffectual manner?

After each goal both sets of fans surged towards the barrier.

[Stevosevic]

Maybe they would not have been hit had they not attacked a fence in such an ineffectual manner?

why were the police not on both sides?

why were the Roma fans allowed to run and provoke the United fans?

why were the Roma fans allowed to throw objects freely, but united fans are attacked when throwing them back?

The Italian police were an absolute disgrace.

[Phube]

The simple answer is Don't go away to europe to watch football, if you do you can expect this type of treatment from fans/police. Not right, but it's a fact!!

[Stevosevic]

The simple answer is Don't go away to europe to watch football, if you do you can expect this type of treatment from fans/police. Not right, but it's a fact!!

dont go to Roma i think you mean

[hairy]

Didn't this all start on the Man U websitewhen it warned fans to avoid areas of the town. The Major of Rome then got wind of this and made it a news item when he objected to their comments. The Roma fans then took exception and the trouble started before the match, outside the ground.

But yes Phube is right. Dont go to Europe to watch your team play.

[Manwell Pablo]

dont go to Roma i think you mean

Actually don't go to Italy, unless of course you understand how they work in Italy in which case you'll be fine. It's the kind of place you go and don't look at a single home supporter during the match never mind run to the barriers to square up to them.

From what I saw the Italian police didn't attack Man u fans throwing objects just those charging the barriers.

The way the Italian police reacted was OTT obviously, but then they've been told to crack down on issues like this and they aren't used to fans like ours who will back away when the police get involved most of the time, they are used to hardcore football hooligans who keep fighting until they can no longer stand. Lets not forget that a policeman has been killed during football violence in Italy not so long ago and they have taken a zero tolerance approach, and Italain zero tolerance is very different to English zero tolerance.

We're very lucky we have what we have in this country.

I find it hard to believe the Man u fans are completely innocent in all this anyway, twice in two European matches is a little coincidental for me.

[The People's Hero]

Actually don't go to Italy, unless of course you understand how they work in Italy in which case you'll be fine. It's the kind of place you go and don't look at a single home supporter during the match never mind run to the barriers to square up to them.

From what I saw the Italian police didn't attack Man u fans throwing objects just those charging the barriers.

The way the Italian police reacted was OTT obviously, but then they've been told to crack down on issues like this and they aren't used to fans like ours who will back away when the police get involved most of the time, they are used to hardcore football hooligans who keep fighting until they can no longer stand. Lets not forget that a policeman has been killed during football violence in Italy not so long ago and they have taken a zero tolerance approach, and Italain zero tolerance is very different to English zero tolerance.

We're very lucky we have what we have in this country.

I find it hard to believe the Man u fans are completely innocent in all this anyway, twice in two European matches is a little coincidental for me.

Entire post, nail on head.

The last part in particular.

No smoke without fire.

[Thracian]

I don't think either set of fans were completely innocent but there were policemen in Rome who were clearly relishing the chance to knock shit out of people who had no chance of defending themselves and who were on the ground protecting themselves and offering no threat whatsoever.

If we'd woken up to find a group of football fans standing over a policeman beating him senseless with batons we'd be appalled.

Wearing a uniform gives people authority to use such means as necessary to keep the peace not the right to beat hell out of folk with no good reason.

[Steven]

Entire post, nail on head.

The last part in particular.

No smoke without fire.

Of course these attacks happen from the Police abroad because all English football fans are hooligans and so they are all fair game. Where is the problem?

[Manwell Pablo]

I don't think either set of fans were completely innocent but there were policemen in Rome who were clearly relishing the chance to knock shit out of people who had no chance of defending themselves and who were on the ground protecting themselves and offering no threat whatsoever.

If we'd woken up to find a group of football fans standing over a policeman beating him senseless with batons we'd be appalled.

Wearing a uniform gives people authority to use such means as necessary to keep the peace not the right to beat hell out of folk with no good reason.

But they had a reason, not a very good one but they had one. They don't mess about in Italy and if you go to Italy you have to know that. Different culture different rules.

[Thracian]

Entire post, nail on head.

The last part in particular.

No smoke without fire.

I'll be interested to hear your reaction if you're ever in that situation and perhaps getting a whacking for trying to help an injured pal.

Some of those police officers were nothing less than out-of-order thugs committing public assaults on people way beyond what was necessary and, in some cases, it would seem, without any justification whatsoever.

[Manwell Pablo]

I'll be interested to hear your reaction if you're ever in that situation and perhaps getting a whacking for trying to help an injured pal.

Some of those police officers were nothing less than out-of-order thugs committing public assaults on people way beyond what was necessary and, in some cases, it would seem, without any justification whatsoever.

Thracian the fans were told to keep away from the barrier, they rushed 10-15 meters to get to that barrier, the police fought them back about 5 meters away from the barrier, if you don't want to get hit it's very very simple, don't run at the ****en barrier. The way the police reacted is normal in Italy thats how they treat people who look like causing trouble I'm afraid.

[The People's Hero]

Of course these attacks happen from the Police abroad because all English football fans are hooligans and so they are all fair game. Where is the problem?

I didn't say that and I don't care to get involved with an argument which descends in to twisting and manipulating what others say.. I'll leave that to you and your journalist mate Thracian.

[The People's Hero]

I'll be interested to hear your reaction if you're ever in that situation and perhaps getting a whacking for trying to help an injured pal.

Some of those police officers were nothing less than out-of-order thugs committing public assaults on people way beyond what was necessary and, in some cases, it would seem, without any justification whatsoever.

They were running at a barrier.

1) There are rules against this.

2) There was a large police presence.

3) No doubt they were warned.

Do you REALLY have any sympathy?

As for your childish, facile comment about hearing my reaction if it happened to me...

Well I won't dignify that with a response. I don't make a habit of provoking notoriously reactionary Policemen and vehement, hardcore supporters with unacceptable behaviour like charging a fence. I don't have much sympathy with idiots who do... you might, but that's not my concern.

[Alexikokopops]

Well I won't dignify that with a response. I don't make a habit of provoking notoriously reactionary Policemen and vehement, hardcore supporters with unacceptable behaviour like charging a fence. I don't have much sympathy with idiots who do... you might, but that's not my concern.

Don't forget to add "just a month or so after a policeman was killed in football violence"

[The People's Hero]

Don't forget to add "just a month or so after a policeman was killed in football violence"

If Thracian is in the business of 'what if you were involved...' I'd pose this question.

Your best friend on the force was killed in football violence. You are on duty at a game between Roma (known to be fanatical/hardcore) and Manchester United (have had a lot of trouble in Europe over the years). It looks like something might kick off and fans are charging the fence.

Do you see Thracian?

[Thracian]

If Thracian is in the business of 'what if you were involved...' I'd pose this question.

Your best friend on the force was killed in football violence. You are on duty at a game between Roma (known to be fanatical/hardcore) and Manchester United (have had a lot of trouble in Europe over the years). It looks like something might kick off and fans are charging the fence.

Do you see Thracian?

I'd be even more careful not to let things get out of hand and not to risk starting a riot. And the last thing I'd be doing is behaving like that.

Furthermore if I was likely to behave like that I'd get out of the job and find something I was more suited to.

It's hardly helpful to have vengeful police controlling a football match if that's what you're suggesting might be the case.

The big thing about the Police and the people we trust in emergency situations is that they are supposed to be trained to be calm and rational in crisis situations, not to risk provoking an escalation.

And since when have people had the right to commit criminal assaults just because they are wearing a uniform or because their mate has been hurt or killed. People who go into the Police acknowledge in doing so that there are risks.

My son's ski-jumping at the moment. He could break his leg, his neck or worse because God knows how many have been killed on the slopes this year in avalanches and whatnot.

But if he didn't accept the risks he wouldn't and shouldn't be doing it.

Now do you see?

[The People's Hero]

Thracian. You're an idiot.

These people knew the risks, they were obvious and conspicuous.

In a volatile atmosphere they charged a fence.

I give up.

[Manwell Pablo]

I'd be even more careful not to let things get out of hand and not to risk starting a riot. And the last thing I'd be doing is behaving like that.

Furthermore if I was likely to behave like that I'd get out of the job and find something I was more suited to.

It's hardly helpful to have vengeful police controlling a football match if that's what you're suggesting might be the case.

The big thing about the Police and the people we trust in emergency situations is that they are supposed to be trained to be calm and rational in crisis situations, not to risk provoking an escalation.

And since when have people had the right to commit criminal assaults just because they are wearing a uniform or because their mate has been hurt or killed. People who go into the Police acknowledge in doing so that there are risks.

My son's ski-jumping at the moment. He could break his leg, his neck or worse. If he didn't accept the risks he wouldn't and shouldn't be doing it.

Now do you see?

A politicians answer.

Now answer the question, how do you stop it.

[Thracian]

Thracian. You're an idiot.

These people knew the risks, they were obvious and conspicuous.

In a volatile atmosphere they charged a fence.

I give up.

When I catch up with you in the idiot stakes I'll truly be an athlete.

[The People's Hero]

When I catch up with you in the idiot stakes I'll truly be an athlete.

Oh, save it for the Daily Mail and the rest of your reactionary, lowest common denominator, idiot wordmiths.

[Steven]

Thracian. You're an idiot.

These people knew the risks, they were obvious and conspicuous.

In a volatile atmosphere they charged a fence.

I give up.

So why were the Police on the Man U side of the fence and not the Roma side? I refer you and others to my post about all English fans being hooloigans.

[Manwell Pablo]

So why were the Police on the Man U side of the fence and not the Roma side? I refer you and others to my post about all English fans being hooloigans.

Thats a very easy question to answear, if you want to break up a ruck which side do you try and back bat, 70,000 Roma fans ro 2,000 Man u fans.

It's always the Away side that get the wrong end of the policemans bat in Italian stadiums, except they aren't stupid enough to try it in the stadiums anymore, as they know what will happen.

[The People's Hero]

So why were the Police on the Man U side of the fence and not the Roma side? I refer you and others to my post about all English fans being hooloigans.

I honestly think it's another issue.

There is the question over whether both sides were policed the same, I admit.

But the issue I was (perhaps ineffectively) driving at was that people were attempting to excuse the actions of idiots charging a fence in a charged atmosphere, in a country notorious for hardcore, fanatical supporters where a policeman has recently been killed.

We are lucky to have what we have in this country in terms of watching football and you cannot simply expect to go abroad and act like animals and expect to get away with it, regardless of how anyone else in the country is acting.

Not all English fans there were hooligans, clearly, but the ones charging the fence were certainly idiots.