Liverpool have offended the people of Naples and Napoli fans after formally warning their supporters they ‘may be targeted for theft, robbery or assault.’
The Champions League match kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
Ahead of this tie, with the squad travelling this evening, Liverpool released a statement via their social media account that has attracted a great deal of negative attention in Italy.
As well as being advised not to wear team colours when travelling, supporters were told to “remain in their respective hotel to drink and eat.
“Fans should not congregate in public areas and should avoid becoming isolated in areas away from the port area of the city.
“We strongly recommend you avoid the city centre. If you chose to visit, please beware that you may be targeted for theft, robbery, or assault.”
This has somewhat understandably offended the people of Naples, who share rather a cultural affinity with Liverpudlians.
In both cases, this city has seen its citizens regularly treated as thugs, criminals and thieves by the rest of the country, with insulting chants and banners referring to their home town as a dangerous place for any outsiders to visit.
English football fans still have a poor reputation in Italy, which is why alcohol sales tend to be banned in the city from the night before a big match, a situation that will always inevitably be linked with the Heysel disaster.
In May 1985, 39 Juventus fans were killed after Liverpool supporters pushed down a wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels ahead of the 1985 European Cup Final.
Wasn’t Insigne robbed by Napoli fans at one time? Hamsik too?
I think Liverpool and other uk cities are scarier at night however there is nothing wrong warning the fans to be careful in Naples
That’s funny coming from Chav scousers. More chance of getting stabbed and shot in Liverpool than anywhere else.
@Ravanelli you mean like Bonucci was robbed in Torino?
That’s a shame … Napoli centro storico is one of the most beautiful places in Italy with the warmest people. It’s all old people and hot women. Stupid English!
The bin dippers warning vs theft and robberies elsewhere? 🤣
Napoli fans should be careful when going to Liverpool and especially do not take children as there is a good chance of the child being shot or mistreated in some appalling way. And take ear phones so you don’t have to hear the whiny accent.