On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Annasfield]

Talking of football violence, did anyone else see this article yesterday?

Some of the most famous streets in Rome will be turned into no-go areas next week to protect more than 30,000 Manchester United supporters who are expected to descend on Italy?s capital for the Champions League final. The city has also been declared an alcohol-free zone for the match against Barcelona a week today.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office posted a detailed warning to United fans last night as it became clear that as many as 10,000 could be on the streets without tickets and at risk from attacks by members of the infamous Ultras, a group of hardcore supporters accused of a series of violent attacks that have earned Rome the nickname of ?Stab City? by followers of English clubs.

Only 19,500 tickets were issued to United, with prices ranging from ?65 to ?183, but concern is mounting that others are flooding on to the black market, with touts even offering tickets for the area behind the goal at the Barcelona end. One website had tickets for all areas of the Stadio Olimpico last night, with those for the Barcelona section on offer at ?1,600.

Fan websites were also awash with stories of supporters planning impromptu visits, hoping to watch the final on giant screens outside the stadium. But there will be no public screens, according to the Foreign Office, raising concerns that thousands will end up milling around Rome and setting themselves up as potential targets.

Greater Manchester Police is co-operating with the Roman authorities and will be sending ?spotters? to mark out potential troublemakers. It is also understood that uniformed British officers could be present alongside their Italian counterparts.

Barcelona, too, could be sending thousands of fans without tickets. The Catalan club were also allocated only 19,500 tickets when they average about 75,000 at the Nou Camp. Although the club have little history of violence, Spanish police fired rubber bullets on Sunday night as Barcelona fans celebrated winning the Spanish league title. More than 50 were injured and 65 arrested.

United?s fans have been warned by the Foreign Office of almost every kind of threat, from gangs of children acting as pickpockets to muggers at the railway and bus stations and even robbers targeting cars on the motorways. But it is the threat from the Ultras that the authorities fear most.

Ever since Rome was announced by Uefa as the host city for Europe?s most prestigious club match, fears have abounded that the appearance of an English team could spark trouble. Colin Hendrie, vice-chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, hopes that an empathy between fans will prevent clashes. ?We?re all admirers of a club like Bar?a,? he said.

Uefa, European football?s governing body, dismissed pleas to change the venue, saying it was too late to alter the complex arrangements for the final. Gianni Alemanno, the Mayor of Rome, admitted yesterday: ?The day of the Champions League final will be very delicate. We are working alongside the police to study the best ways to keep disruption to a minimum, while keeping security tight.?

The Foreign Office will mount a 36-hour operation so that staff will be available before and after the final. Police will cordon off the Piazzale Flaminio, usually a popular meeting place, and the Ponte Duca d?Aosta, a bridge often used by the Ultras on their way to the Stadio Olimpico, to ensure that rival factions do not meet. But the police may add to the complications ? the city authorities are facing the threat of a strike over pay.

I'm by no means condoning what happened at Heysel as it is a very dark for our club's history and one for which we are deeply sorry. However if you read the accounts of what to happened to the Liverpool fans in Rome the year before, the scene was set for altercations between the English and Italian fans. Liverpool fans were set upon all over Rome with many treated for stab injuries, which clearly left a bad taste in some of our supporters mouths.

Still happening in Italy now and I think a few Arsenal fans have received the same treat when playing Roma this season. Apparently they aim to stab you in your buttocks so that there's little chance of inflicting a fatal wound, unless left untreated. Still causing the victim maximum pain and discomfort.

Imagine if the same thing happened in England. There would be outrage.

UEFA clearly wouldn't know how to organise a piss up in brewery. A Champions League final in Moscow, where you can only visit if you have a visa. Constantly using delapidated stadiums that are not fit to host football matches. Discgraceful.

[Mick Mac]

A stab in the buttocks is only painful if you then try sitting down to eat your prawn sandwiches whilst watching football.

[matthew123]

I read that as sensationalist journalism, you'd swear United were off to Bagdad. In other news the Pope has ordered the Vatican to close it's doors after word reached his eminence that 30,000 Red Devils would be invading the Holy City...

Fortunately there is no Italian team in the Final which will make a drastic difference. Yes United do have a history of causing trouble in Europe but let's hope they behave out in Rome.

[red devil]

whereas your posts are so objective...what's it like living in your bitter world?...

[Sandperson]

To be fair I seem to remember similar reports before the Euro Cup Final in 2005 and aimed at warning Liverpool fans. As usual you use it as a chance to have a dig at United. I am starting to feel sorry for Quids, Sean, Jah, etc. Maybe we should have a separate thread called "Liverpool bash United and vice versa" as I am sure it's tedious for the others.

[Annasfield]

No, lets call it the Matthew123/Sandperson/Red devil thread. I find it tedious too and often agree with what Matthew says, but can't be arsed to get involved with the slanging match that ensues.

I posted that link to highlight that football violence isn't always about English clubs and that Rome is dodgy. It was not meant as having a pop at United.

[Jah Lush]

Call it the Red Bile thread where all the Reds (Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal) all have a go at each other.

[Keef]

What Anna said. It's the most sensative souls on here when stuff is said about their clubs, who seem quickest to dish it all out.

[Keef]

Though to be fair, I think red devil is usually a reasonable sort of a chap.

[SimonM]

Before that European skirmish on the Wednesday there's a far more important game at Wembley on the Monday...

SimonM (whose Wembley tickets arrived today...>:D<)

[????]

or call it "Prawn sandwiches at dawn"

[mockney piers]

LOL. From dusk til prawn?

[matthew123]

red devil Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> >

> whereas your posts are so objective...what's it

> like living in your bitter world?...

I've no idea what you're on about Red Devil. Do you seriously think that article about 'Stab City' is reasonable? People are going over there to watch a football match, get a bit of sunshine, have a drink and the media are pumping out crap that will scare the living daylights of their family members back home. If you didn't know better United were off to play a team whose supporters can only be brought under control by rubber bullets. It's so OTT!

Few years ago I went to Turin and one friend pulled out the night before because of pressure from his whole family after the media portrayed it as some kind of suicide mission by any Liverpool fans who were travelling to see them play Juventus.

The media always like to stoke the fires and it should not just been accepted as gospel just because it's in print.

[Sandperson]

Ok, I know where I'm not wanted.

[Keef]

Again with the sensitive SP. Can't we all just chat footy without resorting to playground jibes to wind each other up. Of course you're wanted on here, the thread wasn't the same without you, just as it wasn't the same when Atila wasn't here. Of course, quids and Mockney should start their own thread called Proper Supporters ;-)

[Keef]

As for Stab City, I always thought that was Limerick in Ireland.

[mockney piers]

Very good keef ;)

It is all a bit 'my dads bigger than your dad' though isn't it.

I thought your disillusioned post a week back is about the most sense anyone's posted on here in ages.

[matthew123]

Looks like M'Boro are already down, but can Newcastle escape the drop?

I reckon Hull will beat Man U (who'll almost certainly put out a 2nd string team) and Chelsea will beat Sunderland.. which means Newcastle will have to win away at Villa. I think Newcastle will win and stay up as I cannot see Sunderland getting a win against Chelsea.

Hull 3 - 1 United

Sunderland 1 - 4 Chelsea

Villa 1 - 3 Newcastle

West Ham 1 - 4 M'Boro

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Arsenal 2 Stoke 0

Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 1

Blackburn 1 West Brom 0

Fulham 1 Everton 0

Hull 1 Man Utd 2

Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0

Man City 1 Bolton 0

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 3

West Ham 2 Middlesbrough 0

Wigan 1 Portsmouth 1

Hull Boro and Brom down

Spurs 8th West ham 9th both finish 51 points

Well played Man U shame about Liverpool really wanted them to win it this year

[????]

You been on the sauce Mathew?- Hull, Boro, Newcastle can hardly buy a goal and you've got them scoring hatfulls.

[????]

someone always gets 8 goals last day of the season...I quite fancy it to be Liverpool.

Until next year then

[Mick Mac]

Dundee United 3 - 0 Rangers

Celtic 2 - 0 Hearts

*Wakes up....*

Dundee United 1 Rangers 3 (Dundee United take lead followed by referee stepping in to get himself into Old Firm conspiracy theory folklore by awarding at least one definate non penaltiy to Rangers - I can see it now clear as day)

Celtic do what they should have done against Hibs - win easily: Celtic 4 - 1 Hearts

Gordon Strachan resigns.

[Mick Mac]

"IF RANGERS had travelled to Tannadice 100 years ago searching for a title win, standing in their way would have been a team in green and white supported exclusively by immigrant Irish Catholics.

How about that, all you conspiracy theorists out there? However, Dundee Hibernian became Dundee United in 1923 and eventually changed their colours to tangerine and black."

[Atila Reincarnate]

Adebayor, Adebayor or or, he's been piss poor

so show him the door

[red devil]

Have to agree with Quids, none of the bottom 4 can score a goal for toffee, Hull will have the best chance if Utd do play a second team, but they'll also be fighting to get a place on the bench for the Barca game, if Newcastle attack Villa will pick them off on the counter, same with Chelski, I reckon no change in positions come 6.00pm Sunday...

Good luck to Celtic Mick, if you are chasing your money why don't you put a punt on Robbie Keane getting a goal on his return to Anfield?..