Celtic fans 'stabbed by Lazio ultras' while boozing ahead of Europa League clash

Posted Thursday, November 07, 2019 by Dailystar.co.uk

Thousands of Celtic supporters have travelled to the Italian capital

Two Hoops fans have reportedly been stabbed by Lazio ultras in Rome ahead of today’s Europa League match.

Celtic supporters were boozing in Irish pub Flann O’Brien’s in the Italian capital on Wednesday night when they were allegedly targetted.
According to the Daily Record, hard-core Lazio hooligans - wearing scarves to cover their faces – jumped the fans standing outside.

While not much else is known at this time, one supporter uploaded a photo showing blood on the pavement next to the pub.

BBC journalist Chris McMcLaughlin, who is in Rome to cover the match, said officers told him there were two victims.

The officer added their injuries are not life-threatening.

The injuries were not believed to be serious

But, some Hoops fans in Rome said one supporter was knifed twice.

Footage posted on Twitter showed masked hooligans at another pub targetting Celtic supporters in another pub.

The landlord was quick to close the metal shutters in a bid to protect the fans as thugs smashed the bar’s windows.

Some 9,000 travelling supporters touched down in the Italian capital despite fears of being ambushed by Lazio ultras.

It comes after racist Lazio ultras marched down streets in Glasgow while making Hitler salutes.

Celtic fans 'stabbed by Lazio ultras' while boozing ahead of Europa League clash
Celtic fans have travelled to Rome ahead of the Lazio clash (Image: REUTERS)

Celtic’s own Green Brigade, countered the vile salutes by making a huge banner depicting Italy’s former fascist leader Benito Mussolini hanging upside down – a nod to how his body was treated following his death in 1945.

It’s message of “follow your leader” brought a UEFA charge for Celtic and led the club to believe the provocation might put some fans in danger.