Napoli vs Frankfurt: Champions League last-16 tie marred by violence as visiting fans clash with police

The Champions League last-16 second-leg tie between Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt was marred by violence as visiting fans clashed with police in ugly scenes in Naples before the game.

Over 600 Frankfurt fans are believed to have descended on the Italian city despite being barred from attending the second leg after unsavoury incidents between supporters occurred before the first game in Germany last month.

A police car and other vehicles were set alight as supporters threw flares. Other missiles including chairs were launched as the trouble intensified with innocent bystanders forced to take refuge in bars and restaurants.

Police in riot gear eventually managed to calm the situation, shepherding the fans onto buses to take them to their hotels.

Further clashes were avoided as the majority of Napoli “ultras” were stopped from coming into contact with the German fans, although they did throw stones and bottles at the buses.

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister, wrote on Instagram: “These are not fans, they are criminals, thugs. I wonder if they would make the same mess in Germany?”

Police had been on high alert in the Italian city — around 800 officers had been deployed — as fans arrived from Germany despite Frankfurt forgoing its allocation of tickets for the last-16 match in protest.

That number was boosted further by Atalanta ultras, who have a bitter rivalry with Napoli stretching back decades.

The German club was objecting to a decision by local authorities in Naples banning any fans who are residents of Frankfurt from buying tickets, following unrest between supporters during the first leg in Germany.

This photo obtained from Italian news agency Ansa shows a police car (Front) burn as Eintracht Frankfurt fans (not in picture) clash with police on March 15, 2023 in downtown Naples prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg football match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt to be played at the Diego-Maradona stadium in Naples. - Eintracht Frankfurt fans clashed with police on March 15 after arriving in Naples despite not having tickets for their team's Champions League decider with Napoli. (Photo by Ciro FUSCO / ANSA / AFP) / Italy OUT (Photo by CIRO FUSCO/ANSA/AFP via Getty Images)
Cars were set on fire in Naples before the game (Photo: AFP)
TOPSHOT - This photo obtained from Italian news agency Ansa shows Eintracht Frankfurt fans (Rear) clash with anti-riot police on March 15, 2023 in downtown Naples prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg football match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt to be played at the Diego-Maradona stadium in Naples. - Eintracht Frankfurt fans clashed with police on March 15 after arriving in Naples despite not having tickets for their team's Champions League decider with Napoli. (Photo by Ciro FUSCO / ANSA / AFP) / Italy OUT (Photo by CIRO FUSCO/ANSA/AFP via Getty Images)
Riot police were deployed as violence escalated (Photo: AFP)
Riot police clashes with Eintracht Frankfurt's supporters on the street, ahead of the Champions League soccer match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt in Naples, Italy, Wednesday March 15, 2023. (Stefano Gattordo/LaPresse via AP)
(Photo: AP)
A firefighter extinguishes a burnt car after Eintracht Frankfurt's supporters rioted the streets ahead of the Champions League soccer match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt in Naples, Italy, Wednesday March 15, 2023. (Stefano Gattordo/LaPresse via AP)
Firefighters had to attend to burning cars (Photo: AP)
Firefighters work at the scene where cars were set on fire during clashes between Eintracht Frankfurt fans and Italian police ahead of a UEFA Champions League soccer match between Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt in Naples, Italy, March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer
(Photo: Reuters)
A car is seen on fire during clashes between Eintracht Frankfurt fans and Italian police ahead of a UEFA Champions League soccer match between Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt in Naples, Italy, March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer
A car burning in Naples (Photo: Reuters)

Napoli won that match 2-0 but local police made several arrests in the buildup amid altercations between fans.

Napoli defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo pleaded for calm on the eve of the game, saying: “We must all try to have a good day without disorder or quarrels with whoever arrives in the city. Not only at the stadium but in the streets, in the squares, everywhere.

“As your captain, I ask you not to fall into provocations. Let’s try to make tomorrow a day of celebration.”

According to BT Sport, the away end in the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium is vacant after Frankfurt refused to take up any of their 2,700 ticket allocations.

Reporting by the Associated Press in Naples



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