Several historic fan pubs in Rome have warned they’ll stay closed on the day of the Champions League semi-final between Roma and Liverpool.
There are growing fears of crowd trouble in the city after 53-year-old Sean Cox was left in an induced coma with head injuries following an attack by two Roma ultras, affiliated with the notorious Fedayn group.
A special security summit is taking place today in the Italian Capital to prepare measures for Wednesday’s match, including representatives from both clubs, UEFA and the local authorities.
Several historic fan pubs in Rome have warned they’ll stay closed on the day of the Champions League semi-final between Roma and Liverpool.
There are growing fears of crowd trouble in the city after 53-year-old Sean Cox was left in an induced coma with head injuries following an attack by two Roma ultras, affiliated with the notorious Fedayn group.
A special security summit is taking place today in the Italian Capital to prepare measures for Wednesday’s match, including representatives from both clubs, UEFA and the local authorities.
“We’ve decided to close for two days, extending the May 1 holiday, so we’ll be shut both Tuesday and Wednesday,” the owners of the Finnegan Hirisch Pub in via Leonina told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
The Trinity pub in via del Collegio Romano also confessed this match feels different.
“We’ve always been open, but this time the atmosphere is really negative and we are waiting to hear what the authorities say. If there is no limit on the sale of alcohol and English fans are allowed to buy it at the supermarket, they’ll reach us already drunk.
“Lately, with the proliferation of minimarkets, the situation has been aggravated and there need to be even tighter restrictions.”
Any fans hoping to travel to Rome without tickets to watch the game in pubs have been advised to stay at home, especially as many of these pubs will be closed.
The Drunken Ship at Campo de’ Fiori and the Scolar Hirish Pub in via del Plebiscito have both said they’re “waiting to see how many English fans arrive in Italy” before deciding on whether to pull down the shutters.