Serie A: Eight arrested as Udinese fans ambush Venezia supporters’ train
Udinese fans ambushed a train carrying Venezia supporters after their Serie A match on Saturday, triggering a mass brawl that left several people injured and led to eight arrests, Italian police said on Sunday.
Around 50 Italian and Austrian Udinese supporters, many covering their faces and wielding flares and smoke bombs, occupied the tracks at Basiliano, near the northeastern city of Udine, where the home side had won 3-2.
They forced a train carrying Venezia supporters to stop, at which point several dozen fans on board descended onto the platform, sparking what police described as a “massive brawl.”
The clashes, which broke out in the early evening, lasted only a few minutes before officers, backed by a police helicopter, swiftly intervened.
Most Udinese supporters fled, and the Venezia fans reboarded the train, police said in a statement.
However, eight people were arrested, including five Austrians, one Bosnian, and one Albanian.
Several fans were injured, two of whom were taken to Udine hospital by ambulance, while three police officers were also hurt.
The train sustained damage from objects thrown at the carriages. Passengers who had not attended the match were transferred to another train, while Venezia fans were moved to undamaged carriages.
The train departed around 8:00 pm (1900 GMT), less than two hours after the incident began.
Both clubs condemned the violence, expressed concern for the injured, and pledged to cooperate with authorities. Udinese warned that “those who tarnish the sport with violence are not fans.”
The match had been classified as high risk following clashes when the teams met in Venice on 30 October, during which Udinese fans were attacked near the train station before returning home.
Police had escorted an estimated 1,200 Venezia fans from their trains to the stadium on Saturday and back again. Officers were also stationed at Basiliano in anticipation of potential trouble from Udinese supporters.
According to the Italian press, Udinese hooligans were backed by ultras from the Austrian club Salzburg, with whom they have ties.
AFP
