Journalist Tony Evans believes that UEFA needs to act on the issue of fans in Rome targeting English fans, prior to Liverpool's match with Roma in the Italian capital.
The Evening Standard and ESPN FC contributor was speaking to Ger on OTB AM to discuss the issue that he traces back to the 1984 European Cup final that Liverpool won in Rome. The antipathy and violence felt by Liverpool fans that day laid the foundations for the deadly clashes at Heysel Stadium one year on, and Evans was keen to mark the warnings from history.
"The relationship between Liverpool and Roma has been really bad since 1984, when Liverpool ruined the biggest day in Roma's history. We have been near the top of their list of enemies ever since. Back when they played them in 2000/2001, there was trouble outside - I think there was 21 stabbings overall.
"What is thrown into the mix is that Rome is the only city in the world where football fans are regularly targeted and stabbed. They have a name for it, they call it 'puncicate' - which means stabbing people in the buttocks - and they have elevated it to a cultural symbol. They think it's part of the Roman tradition. It is cowardly actions dressed up as culture."
As a lifelong Liverpool fan and regular traveller to European away games, Evans had some advice for Reds fans going to watch the Champions League semi-final.
"I wouldn't be going out in small groups. I wouldn't be wearing Liverpool shirts and scarves. I wouldn't be making loud noises or trying to colonise bars. I wouldn't be putting up banners. I would just be keeping my head down because I saw what it was like in 1984 - when it gets hostile outside of the Stadio Olimpico, it gets really hostile.
"One of the problems is that you can't rely on the police. The police are almost, at times, like the armed wing of the Ultras. It sets up a very difficult situation. To make it worse, it seems that there has been a bit of posturing and both sides are setting the other up to be the bad guys and to be the troublemakers. I fear that tonight might be a difficult night in Rome."
As to why this issue is again rearing its head at a time when it was presumed that football hooliganism was a thing of the past, Tony was circumspect.
"We have always been this way, especially in Rome. Rome hasn't changed, we just don't hear about it - it happens all the time. I don't think that there has been any upsurge in hooliganism in England and the Premier League. I think people oversold what happened to the Man City bus [...] and have turned it into this big bout of hooliganism. It was a few daft dopes throwing empty cans and plastic bottles at the coach, and a few idiots throwing real bottles. I don't think we have seen an upsurge in it. But it's never gone away in Rome."
You can watch OTB AM weekdays from 7:45 on Off the Ball's YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels.
