England fans have reportedly ben attacked by baton wielding Italian police officers with one supporter knocked unconscious.
New footage on social media shows the moment that the Italian police “attacked England fans” prior to the Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy in Naples.
With a difficult away match against the team that beat them in 2021’s final, the Three Lions kicked off their qualification campaign for next year’s European Championship.
This took place against a backdrop of huge concern about fan trouble when Napoli, Frankfurt and Atalanta fans clashed in Naples. See more on that HERE.
Thursday night’s incident shows fans struck by baton-wielding Italian officers as they waited to enter the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Eyewitness reports claim that one elderly man was unconscious when officers entered England’s traveling supporters randomly before the Euro 2024 qualifying opener.
British Police were also present, as seen in the video, trying to defend English supporters and telling Italian cops to calm down.
#ItaliaInghilterra Tensione tra i tifosi inglesi e la polizia nelle fasi conclusive dell’ingresso allo stadio. Intervengono gli agenti dei reparti mobili con diverse cariche pic.twitter.com/9RSLk638ei
— Local Team (@localteamtv) March 23, 2023
England fans waiting to get in to European Championship qualifier against Italy in Naples charged by police. One fan injured after falling backwards. #england #ITAENG pic.twitter.com/pilgLGNo9C
— David Cheeseman (@davidcheeseman) March 23, 2023
#ItaliaInghilterra, ambulanza arriva allo stadio di Napoli: soccorso un tifoso inglese rimasto contuso negli incidenti con la polizia #Italia #Inghilterra #Napoli #localteam pic.twitter.com/jES350ENXF
— Local Team (@localteamtv) March 23, 2023
It was unclear what sparked the incident but in the end, it has all calmed down.
One supporter told The Mirror: “This was completely unprovoked and unwarranted attack.
“It could have escalated very quickly but many England fans managed to calm the situation down.”
Pre-match tensions began when a lone travelling England fan was pictured with a flag bearing a message about Diego Maradona.
The Argentine, who guided Napoli to their last Serie A title, in 1990, died in September 2020.
The supporter was photographed with an England flag that carried the message “Diego’s in a Box”.
Italian police warned him that he could be arrested if he tried to attend the game. The FA confirmed that his ticket was blocked.
If he’s doesn’t get stabbed I’ll be surprised pic.twitter.com/2bmd8GFrWK
— 💥 (@CM67_) March 23, 2023
A number of fans also chanted the same message during the first half.
There was also an issue when some of 2,700 away fans were being loaded onto coaches and taken in the opposite direction from the stadium before kick-off.
Harry Kane, England’s record goal scorer, was awarded their first win in Italy since 1961 as part of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Kane made history when he beat Gianluigi Donarumma from the penalty box for his 54th goal, overtaking Wayne Rooney, the previous record holder.
Declan Rice gave England a lead early in the match when he scored from close range following Kane’s blocked shot.
The captain then put aside all the memories of the spot kick miss against France in the World Cup quarter final in Qatar with an emphatic spot kick.
Debutant Mateo Retegui took advantage of Harry Maguire’s poor attempt to close the danger at the box’s edge, putting one past Pickford.
England held on, despite Luke Shaw’ getting two yellows in under one minute.
This is what social media users said with England fans attacked by baton wielding Italian police with one supporter knocked unconscious…
@JohnADodd78: The fact there seem to be UK police there makes this even more scary. Totally out of control Italian authorities using thuggish behaviour.
@Jameswwfc: Mad that we have to deal with this still at every away game #englandaway
@Denton_james: Yep this is not a shock
@afccharlie: Remember when we played Napoli. Old bill caused agg needlessly just making us standing outside the away end waiting for people to get the ump then they do their normal bit all in riot gear. Proper scum they are
@ZakJohno2: Foreign police scum of the earth, even the English coppers telling them to calm down, wankers
@Tooneyram: Will be fun when we get outside
@Kingy78_: Italian and Spanish coppers up there with the worst about.
@joeselway: This is disgraceful, police causing every bit of trouble
@alexjones69: What are the Italian old bill doing?????
@PieCFC: How you meant to get in. Totally blocked. Shite policing.
@ash_cfc89: Ultras out hunting Jake Hepple so it’s left to the local police to have a dust up with the English
@ethanhunt1961: This situation was created by the Italian Police forcing coaches to drive in the opposite direction to the ground. They were just trying to get into the game. Anyway, a great result against the worst Italian side since they last failed to qualify for the world cup. 🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
@CoolDogKingdom1: Outside the stadium England fans are being hit for just standing there.
@syorky1: Police over there .Absolute nightmare 🏴
@PrestonChris: They aren’t even English by the looks of it ! 😂
@a_dsy72: Naples and Italy in general is by far the worst place to go for any away fan
@AVFCCharlie: This the main reason that puts me off England away. Old bill in foreign countries are just fuckin nutters
@hf37489: all the billy big balls who thought they were untouchable 😂😂😂
@jaburto27: Why are the Italian police so fucking useless , every time . Clearly do it on purpose and to provoke.
@ReeveTom: Should ban the club they do it on purpose wankers
@GK1_DA: These must of got the buses 🤣🤣
@agitpro: Italian police baton charging England fans who were in the poorly managed queue to get in the stadium… same old story. the treatment of English football fans in Europe is nothing short of a disgrace
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