Italian soccer hooligans conflict in violent scenes as autos are set on hearth and riot police spray tear gasoline at followers forward of Inter Milan’s conflict with Genoa
Italian hooligans clashed in disturbing scenes ahead of a Sunday evening fixture between Inter Milan and Genoa, with more than two police officers injured as pre-match festivities turned violent.
Supporters of the two teams are thought to have thrown Molotov cocktails, with a number of vehicles in the streets surrounding Genoa’s Luigi Ferraris Stadium set on fire.
Riot police had been braced for a clash between the two sets of supporters in Liguria, and sought to break up the fracas with the use of tear gas.
The scenes took place approximately an hour before the 6pm kick-off, shortly after the arrival of Inter’s fan buses, as per Italian outlet Ansa.
Smoke bombs, firecrackers, and bottles were also said to have been thrown between the two parties, with a van and a scooter among the vehicles set on fire.
Firefighters were also called to the scene in a bid to contain the flames.
Vehicles were set on fire as fans clashed ahead of kick-off between Inter Milan and Genoa
Riot police were deployed in Liguria but as the clashes intensified as many as three officers were taken to hospital
Inter and Genoa are not historic rivals, but the latter have been robbed of a league derby opponent following the relegation of Sampdoria, with whom they share a ground.
As per Ansa, police are not ruling out that the two fans may have staged the meeting in advance, which saw up to three officers taken to hospital for minor injuries.
The clashes died down however, and fans were eventually allowed into the stadium, where Inter secured their spot at the top of Serie A with a victory on the road.
After just six minutes, defender Yann Bisseck netted a surprise opener for the visitors, before Lautaro Martinez doubled the side’s lead going into half-time.
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Among the vehicles set on fire outside of the Luigi Ferraris Stadium were a van and a scooter
In an effort to clear the two sets of supporters police deployed tear gas in the packed streets
As per Italian outlet Ansa, the trouble started when Inter fan buses arrived at the ground
Despite the chaos just over an hour before kick-off the match was able to start on time
The hosts were subject to a defeat which confirmed Inter’s spot at the top of the Serie A table
Although the hosts were able to pull one back via Vitinha, but the end of their five-game unbeaten left Genoa just two points away from the relegation places.
Inter meanwhile benefitted from dropped points by title rivals AC Milan and Napoli, with Cristian Chivu’s side sitting just one point ahead of the former, and two ahead of the latter.
