United fan in serious condition after stabbing

A Manchester United fan is hurt after being hit on the head during clashes with Italian riot policemen during their Champions League quarter-final, first leg, football match at the Olimpic Stadium in Rome. An English football fan was said to be in a serious condition after being stabbed in the neck during clashes between rival fans before the Champions League quarter-final, first leg here on Wednesday.

An English football fan was said to be in a serious condition after being stabbed in the neck during clashes between rival fans before the Champions League quarter-final, first leg here on Wednesday.

Italian news agency ANSA reported the Manchester United supporter was among 18 fans taken to Rome's San Giacomo hospital after the violence close to Roma's Olympic stadium.

ANSA said around 300 English fans, many who were under the influence of alcohol, were involved.

Inside the stadium, United fans were baton charged by Italian police shortly after Roma had scored their first goal in a 2-1 win for the Italian side.

The police took action after United fans had reacted to spiteful provocation from the Roma supporters in the north enclosure.

The Roma supporters ran towards the fencing separating them from their United counterparts and pelted them with plastic drink bottles, many of them full.

The police then baton-charged the United supporters, leaving at least one English fan stunned and nursing a bloodied head.

It had been ordered by Rome police chief Achille Serra that no alcohol should be sold to fans in the Italian capital from midday Wednesday until three o'clock the following morning.