Rome soccer violence 'was organised attack'

An Italian newspaper has said the violence before the Roma-Liverpool UEFA Cup match was the result of premeditated guerilla action.

The Corriere della Sera of Milan said the stabbing of six Liverpool supporters and attacks against riot police may have been revenge attacks.

The paper said groups of Roma fans may have wanted to avenge the beating of a Roma supporter by police at Bologna last week.

Corriere quoted police officers as saying that they expected more trouble from the most violent Roma fans in the next league matches, including Sunday's AS Roma-Lecce game at Olimpico.

"It was not the hatred for rival fans," Corriere wrote. "It looked like a premeditated guerrilla plan."

A spokesman for Liverpool FC claims the attacks against English fans were "completely without provocation".

Most Italian dailies devoted front-page headlines to the night of violence in Rome, which also caused minor injuries to several tourists and a few Romans who tried to oppose the troublemakers.

During the riots, police fired tear gas to disperse the attackers who hurled stones and bottles. A taxi and a motorcycle were set afire.

Roma, the Italian league leader, will play the second-leg match in Liverpool next Thursday.

Meanwhile, Rome police have reported that the six stabbed British fans are recovering in the hospital and that nobody was in life-threatening condition.