The Eternal Radgies

When in Rome, watch your back. Predictable histrionics from the Italian media after Manchester United advised their fans to avoid areas associated with the Roma Ultras. The mayor of the city summoned the British ambassador to complain and threw out a non-sequitor about the city being safer than London, newspapers alleged racism and referred accusingly to drunk English football fans, and the coach of the football team talked at length about his club's passionate, correct, non-violent supporters. No mention then of the fans who had to be dispersed with tear gas during running battles with Lazio thugs, the ultras who caused the abandonment of another derby game after a false rumour that one of their number had been killed in a pre-match fight with the police, the three Middlesbrough followers knifed in the Campo de Fiori or the innocent Liverpool supporters stabbed and battered in a coach park. The truth is that every city has its no-go areas for travelling supporters, especially on important match days, and anyone who pretends otherwise is indirectly encouraging the violence that follows. As Catania proved, of the many things that are ignored in Italy's culture of disobedience, football hooliganism is now perhaps the most dangerous.