Six police officers were injured and the identification of the perpetrators of the violence is “still in progress through the analysis of the images” shot by the police or posted on social networks, said an official from the prefecture of Naples. , Alessandro Giuliano, quoted by the AGI agency. The first clashes took place on Wednesday afternoon between supporters and police in Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, in the historic center, giving rise to scenes of urban guerrilla warfare.
Scuffles then occurred after the match near the hotel where the German supporters were staying on the Naples seafront. When the German supporters left their hotel by bus, Napoli tifosi tried to approach by throwing stones and large firecrackers. The police responded to this assault with tear gas and water cannons.
The identity of 470 German supporters was identified by the police before their departure. In addition, dozens of Atalanta Bergamo supporters were present alongside the German ultras, with whom they are paired.
This violence occurred when the supporters of the German club had not been authorized to buy tickets for this meeting, after a ping-pong between the Italian authorities and the club, against a backdrop of risks of unrest at the ‘public order. The maintenance services of Naples intervened in the night to remove the vandalized street furniture and the remains of burned vehicles in this very touristic district.
“It is not possible to see this again in 2023”
The mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, quoted by the Italian agency Ansa, denounced Wednesday “crazy and unacceptable devastation”. “We strongly condemn these unspeakable acts (…) whoever the perpetrators”, he added, while the authorities, and in the first place the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, were criticized for management of this case.
Juan Jesus, player of Naples, deplored this violence on Wednesday evening: “It’s bad for the city and bad for football (…) It’s not possible to see that again in 2023”. Eintracht and its supporters have been under close surveillance by UEFA since last season, following the invasion of the pitch and the use of pyrotechnic devices in its Waldstadion, after qualifying for the final of the Europa League against West Ham in May.
In September, incidents had already broken out in Marseille (France) between supporters of OM and Eintracht, with smoke bombs exchanged between stands and a seriously injured Frankfurt supporter. German supporters also gave Nazi salutes.
