9 months ago
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BRIGHTON and Hove Albion fans have been stabbed, beaten and robbed in Italy ahead of their Europa League last 16 clash with Roma.
A 27-year-old and a 28-year-old, believed to be Brits, were assaulted by a masked gang of thugs and were found with stab wounds on their thighs.
GettyCops arrived outside a restaurant in Rome after hearing reports of fighting and found two men badly injured on the street, Italian media reports.
Police were called to the Monti district after a waiter reported the chilling attack.
The two fans had been attacked in the street by “six of seven people wearing masks” just after midnight on Wednesday evening, a police spokesman said.
The pair were also robbed of their bags which had their wallets and documents inside.
The thugs sharply fled the scene before cops could arrive.
The two injured men were then taken to a local hospital.
Police are investigating the case.
The game tonight marks Brighton’s first ever knock out match in Europe against a formidable opponent.
Roberto De Zerbi’s men are coming into the match on the back of a turbulent few weeks.
They haven’t won in the last three games and were played off the park by Fulham on Saturday in their final game before travelling out to Rome.
Brighton managed to sell an impressive 3,500 tickets for the game tonight although the mammoth Stadio Olimpico will see them face up against 70,000 Roma fans.
Among them are die hard football fans who make up the historic clubs ‘ultras’ dubbed the Fedayn or the devotees.
Rome has seen a number of issues with British football fans over the years.
Roma lost in the final of the Europa League last year on penalties under Jose Mourinho.
The return fixture on the South Coast will take place on March 14, with Brighton looking to move on to the quarter finals.
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