Shocking new footage shows Leicester and Napoli fans attacking each other following the UEFA Europa League meeting on Thursday night.
Missiles were thrown and the culprits were spotted clambering over seats to confront one another at the end of the Foxes’ 2-2 draw with the Serie A outfit at the King Power Stadium.
At least 12 arrests have been made with police officers having to wade into the crowd at the full time whistle.
Few Leicester lads storming the away end after Napoli ultras attack the family stand with belts. š³ pic.twitter.com/XdhQNEHWGM
ā Casual Mind (@CasualMind_) September 16, 2021
As objects were launched between the two sets of fans, skirmishes broke out in the corner where the away end meets the north family stand.
City supporters climbed over the netting dividers to confront their rivals from Napoli, while video footage shows away fans astonishingly removing their belts to use as weapons.
Stewards were initially overwhelmed by what they were seeing and dozens of police officers had to step in to separate the coming together. After a couple of minutes, the police gained control of the situation, though missiles continued to be thrown in both directions.
Multiple announcements had to be made over the PA speaker system telling City fans in the blocks either side of the away end to leave the ground and ārespect your clubā.
Leicester (left) vs Napoli (right) šš¼šš¼ pic.twitter.com/8FjKAH1EwY
ā Casual Mind (@CasualMind_) September 16, 2021
At 11:15pm, Leicestershire Police’s Twitter account said that a dozen arrests had been made, describing the behaviour of some fans as a ādisgraceā.
They said: āAll the excitement for Europe spoilt once again by the minority. CCTV will be viewed and those responsible will be held to account.
“Behaviour by some was a disgrace. Well done and thank you to those who didn’t get involved. Twelve arrests so far and counting.ā
The match was the Premier League sideās first European game with fans in attendance for over four years, since the Champions League quarter-final in 2017.
Only last week had UEFA updated their rules to permit away fans to attend Europa League fixtures, and a couple of hundred travelling supporters made their way to the game.
The scenes at the final whistle marred an entertaining game that had seen City give up a two-goal lead.
Ayoze Perez volleyed Brendan Rodgers’ side into a half time advantage, which was doubled by Harvey Barnes, but MOTM Victor Osimhen scored a brace to bring the Italian side level, with his second headed in with a few minutes to spare.
Wilfred Ndidi was sent off in injury time after for a second bookable offence, tugging the shirt of opposite number.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers: “It was a really good measure for us. Napoli are arguably the favourites for the competition, but we were very competitive.
“We are disappointed to lose the goals but there is still a lot for us to be happy about and lots for us to analyse where we can do better.
“It was a really exciting game for the neutral, I was really pleased with the team in terms of the mentality, the goals and the resilience for a lot of the game.
“I didn’t think the referee was very good all night and Wilf was unfortunate, he picked up the booking early on and was fighting to get across to stop the attacker getting away. It was a little bit harsh.”
Twitter users reacted as the shocking footage shows Leicester and Napoli fans attacking each other…
@barnstonworth: Iām not defending anyone as there is no need for violence at footballā¦but i sit in the family stand and Napoli fans where constantly throwing things at Leicester fans all night the police should have dealt with issues earlierā¦..
@blakeyi: Just picked my a daughter up who works down there; police seem to be managing the event well but thereās some fiery fans that have traveled for sure. Hope everyone gets home safe
@craiglcfc: Police and club didnāt manage it well at all. They decided to leave one side of the away end completely unpoliced with only three stewards who became completely overwhelmed very quickly. It was so obvious what could happen it was untrue.
@TaylorBoy210: They started hitting us. What we meant to do just let them fight us
@Platformpop: Poor Italians had to hold up their trousers all the way back to Napoli cause their belts were nicked by the Leicester lads
@JamieDalgarno: Who started throwing their Kit Kat wrappers?
@ceemac92: Theyāre fuckin horrible that Napoli. What do you expect them to do just let them wack toddlers in the family stand with belts and do fuck all. Take a day off Geoff. Horrible dirty breed that Napoli
@FoxisBlue: Wouldn’t it be nice if they went for a beer together after the match instead.
@ndidiXR_25; Canāt blame Leicester fans for defending their corner of the ground, dunno what Napoli fans were thinking trying to get into the Leicester end, all game chanting āFuck you Leicesterā what did you expect Leicester & Napoli fans to sit and have tea together
@Jamieb_lcfc: Leicestershire police had an absolute shocker last night. Just as embarrassing tbh if not worse
@smethwickmon: Coppers did absolutely fuck all until the aggro was well under way. Did they confuse #Napoli fans with #ExtinctionRebellion or #InsulateBritain?
Napoli fans getting dropped at Leicester B&Q for some tools. š pic.twitter.com/mDSVcO03vg
ā DANYOUNGUK (@danyoung_uk) September 16, 2021
@TED247: All that police and stewards just standing watching?? What is going on
@nikralzahs: Unfortunately it was inevitable. The ‘tough’ guys were bragging way before the game.
@lufcparker: Foreigners only fighting with weapons. Fair play Leicester.
@juza_23: Not to mention the pathetic policing there. All fine watching some Napoli fans try to go over the partition swinging belts, but only actually bother to do something when the Leicester fans try to step in and defend people from it. Absolute joke.
@Pebe89: Leicester fans hitting Napoli ultras with their clappers.
@ZoneBellingham: Italian fans sound like scum
@NathanEade: Leicester fans immediately cancelling flights to Naples
@Gregskii3: Its got to be said that it was pretty ridiculous when italians were making out that the all England fans were barbaric when the reality is they have a huge hooliganism problems
@zacditchfield: Shitbags the police at Leicester tonight, all happy to stand in the stairwell and watch the napoli fan leathering the lad with a belt but as soon as a few Leicester fans turn it on him they all come flying down the stairs to save the Itai rats
@wilber7_lfc: Napoli being cunts again
@JoBeanCash_: As a Leicester fan, I’ve never been prouder that watching our fans jumo the divide and pile into the Napoli end š„² #lcfc
@thegoat10: Canāt wait to see how many #leicester fans make the return trip to #napoli now
@Fletch19852: No fear Leicester have them card board clapper things to fight back
Embarrassing to see Leicester and Napoli fans chucking missiles at each other. Absolute prats, all of them. Itās a football match FFS. pic.twitter.com/v0HGO6Tsn9
ā Mr Geoff Peters (@mrgeoffpeters) September 16, 2021
Leicester vs. Napoli. 16.09.2021
Fans of both teams clashed with each other at the end of the match. pic.twitter.com/LdtyEVvJWcā HooligansTV (@HooligansTV_eu) September 17, 2021

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