If that was the case everyone arriving in Rome would be stabbed at the airports because - as any Roman will tell you - it would make life easier for all.
I was at the game and the vast majority of United fans got on fine around town and the locals left them alone as those smarter Reds - of which there are many - were just out for a good time and Rome is accustomed to drunken tourists. It's certainly a lot safer than most of the larger towns and cities in Ireland.
However, before the game around 50 United fans charged across the bridge at the Curva Sud end of the Stadio Olimpico in a clearly premeditated attack on the Roma fans who traditionally congregate there and all hell broke loose. It's terrible that some of them were stabbed, but what were they looking for if it wasn't violence? I can think of many more pleasant ways of passing an evening and, thankfully, most Reds and Romanistas think likewise. The rest of us had a ball.
Was talking to a friend who was at the Roma game and was in the Roma end for the game.
He told me that 50 United fans charged a bunch of Roma fans. And 5 of that small group ended up being stabbed. Not very smart to charge at home fans who have a dodgy reputation for violence on their turf one would think!
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