RIOT POLICE were called into action during Roma’s Europa League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The hosts emerged from the game victorious thanks to goals from Angelino and Eldor Shomurodov.
RexPolice were forced to intervene as Roma and Frankfurt fans clashed[/caption]
RexUltras from both sides attempted to throw flares and pyro towards their rivals[/caption]
RexFour arrests had been made even before the game[/caption]
However, shortly after Roma took the lead police were forced to intervene as fans started throwing flares.
Fan-captured footage from inside the Stadio Olimpico showed police swarming up the stairs of the stands and ushering fans away from the protective glass separating them from rivals.
A second video showed pyro being launched from one section of fans and into the other during the police intervention.
Another showed how police and stewards had formed an extra barrier of protection at half-time to keep the two sides separate, while flares were ignited within the sections of the crowd.
Fan tension had been rife even before the match.
According to Italian media, four Roma fans were arrested ahead of the game who were involved in an attempted raid on Eintracht Frankfurt supporters’ shuttle buses heading to the stadium.
The report says two of the fans arrested were minors, with the incident taking place near the Piazzale delle Belle Arti, a known meeting place for fans before games.
Frankfurt’s strong campaign in the Europa League League Phase effectively secured them a spot in the top regardless of what might happen elsewhere on the final matchweek.
And despite suffering a 2-0 loss – just the second defeat of their European campaign – they came fifth in the overall standings.
The Bundesliga outfit will play one of FCSB, Ajax, Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK in the last-16.
Meanwhile, Roma have had a far more stop-start campaign and would have crashed out completely if they had not won last night.
As it goes, they will now face a play-off round for the chance to get into the last-16 of the competition.
Roma will play one of Ferencvaros or Porto in their play-off and could set up a heated last-16 tie against hated rivals Lazio.
Who faces who in the Europa League?
Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…
Teams who finished from ninth to 24th in the Europa league phase will play off to decide who reaches the last-16.
PLAYOFF ROUND
Bodo/Glimt vs Twente or Fenerbahce
Anderlecht vs Twente or Fenerbahce
FCSB vs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK
Ajax vs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK
Real Sociedad vs AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland
Galatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland
Roma vs Ferencvaros or Porto
Plzen vs Ferencvaros or Porto
Winners of playoff ties will then face the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase in the last-16…
LAST 16
Lazio vs Roma or Plzen or Ferencvaros or Porto
Athletic Bilbao vs Roma or Plzen or Ferencvaros or Porto
Man Utd vs Real Sociedad or Galatasaray or FC Midtjylland or AZ Alkmaar
Tottenham vs Real Sociedad or Galatasaray or FC Midtjylland or AZ Alkmaar
Frankfurt vs FCSB or Ajax or Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK
Lyon vs FCSB or Ajax or Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK
Olympiakos vs Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht or Twente or Fenerbahce
Rangers vs Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht or Twente or Fenerbahce
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