Lazio fans accused of aiming anti-Semitic chants at Spurs as Andre Villas-Boas calls for UEFA probe

 
23 November 2012

UEFA are expected to decide today if Lazio should answer for alleged anti-Semitic chanting as Tottenham's tumultuous trip to Rome took another unwanted twist last night.

Tottenham drew 0-0 with Lazio to move one step closer to the knockout stages of the Europa League, but the game had already been overshadowed before kick-off.

Eleven people were injured during an attack on Tottenham supporters in Rome city centre in the early hours of Thursday morning. One of them was recovering from being stabbed in the head and leg.

A calm and subdued atmosphere descended on the Eternal City yesterday afternoon as people reacted with outrage to the attack.

Immediately before the match it was hoped Paul Gascoigne's presence at the game would unite the two sets of fans, but controversial chanting from the Curva Nord, where the Lazio Ultras sit, put paid to that idea inside the first 15 minutes.

Shortly after revealing a 'Free Palestine' banner, a section of the home support began singing "Juden Tottenham" to the fans of the London club, who have a historical Jewish connection.

UEFA would not comment on the matter last night, saying they would only be able to look in to the issue if it was mentioned in the match delegate's report, which is due to arrive at European football's governing body today.

UEFA fined Lazio £32,500 for their fans monkey chanting at three Spurs players during the reverse fixture in September, and Andre Villas-Boas hopes the organisation move swiftly to establish the facts.

"It will take another investigation," the Tottenham manager said.

"It happened last time and it was acted upon quickly by UEFA. We will have to wait and see if there is anything to act upon. If there is UEFA have to act."

News of the attack sparked outrage among the people of Rome and the 3,000 fans who had made the trip from Britain to the Italian capital to support their team.

One Spurs fan caught up in the attack recalled how the attackers beat a group of around 30 people with planks of wood and knuckle dusters after throwing gas canisters in to the Drunken Ship pub.

"We heard smashing glass, shouting and then smoke. I thought there was a fire but we realised they'd thrown gas in to the pub - that's why they had scarves over their faces," said the Spurs fan, who did not want to be named.

"There were about 30 of them - they pushed through the pub and pinned us back in to a corner.

"They grabbed anything they could and hit us with it. The attack lasted about 10 minutes but it felt like longer.

"I feared the worst. I have got two young kids and I was just thinking...

"I ended up with a couple of bruises but if I had been at the front then God knows what would have happened to me.

"It was like something out of a film."

Lazio denied their fans had been responsible for the attack.

The Italian giants were last night denied victory thanks to a top-class performance from Hugo Lloris.

The draw means Tottenham now only have to draw their final Europa League group game against Panathinaikos next month to progress to the knockout stages.

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