The police intervened in the streets of Bologna this Tuesday. Lille supporters, present in a bar, were attacked by Bolognese ultras.
LOSC flew this Tuesday, around 5:30 p.m., to Italy where their men will face Bologna as part of the fifth day of the Champions League league phase. With seven points collected at mid-term, the Mastiffs have their qualification within reach. A success would be a very big step and could, according to certain statistical predictions, be enough to enter the round of 16 of the competition.
Hostilities were unfortunately launched prematurely by local supporters, including a fringe of ultras who attacked Lille in town. The Irish pub “Cluricaune” was, according to Il Resto del Carlinothe scene of a brawl. Around eighty individuals, armed with belts and iron bars, ambushed around thirty LOSC supporters. Police in riot gear were forced to intervene to put an end to the scenes of violence. Three French fans were injured and two spent the night in Sant'Orsola hospital.
LOSC, through a press release published in the afternoon, confirmed the facts and broke its silence. The club
“unreservedly condemns this cowardly and intolerable attack, which contravenes all the values of football and popular support” and adds that
“provisions have already been taken by the Italian law enforcement agencies to strengthen the supervision and reception of the Lille public in Bologna”we can read.
Players targeted
The night was also turbulent for the LOSC players who, according to the local press, were heckled by local supporters. Around three a.m., a group of four to five people climbing the hotel fence was spotted by security forces present on site. The troublemakers threw firecrackers and smoke bombs before fleeing.
Far from being a first
These incidents are not the first to have been recorded in recent weeks. Following AS Monaco's victory in Bologna (0-1) during the 4th day of the Champions League, a group of Monegasque supporters were ambushed after leaving the Renato-Dall'Ara Stadium. Around twenty Bolognese ultras, armed with sticks and straps, struck in all directions then fled in different directions. Six attackers were identified and arrested, while two Monegasque supporters were taken to the Maggiore hospital in Bologna.
