Roma fans behind Tottenham attack receive five-year stadium ban

Two men arrested last week for a violent attack on Tottenham fans in Rome have been handed five-year bans from stadium grounds in Italy.

Francesco Ianari and Mauro Pinnelli, both Roma supporters, were charged with aggravated assault after leaving three Spurs fans seriously injured. This followed an appeal by police to identify the men, which was successful after CCTV pictures and witness statements quickly led to the arrest of Ianari and Pinnelli.

It was believed the attack was a product of the UEFA Europa League clash between Tottenham and Lazio on Nov. 22; however, after it became known the duo were Roma fans this link was dropped.

The attack on the Spurs supporters is now understood to have been orchestrated by members of an extremist rally that was held in the city last Friday. Fulvio Della Rocca, the superintendent of Rome, said in a statement that he "considered the circumstances of the facts" before banning the two men for five years.