Serious riots broke out in the city center before SSC Napoli’s Champions League game against Eintracht Frankfurt. Several hundred ultras and Bundesliga club hooligans met in the Piazza del Gesú, the historic center of Naples, and attacked police officers with tables and chairs. In addition, bottles, smoke bombs and firecrackers were ignited and rioted in nearby shops. At least one police car was set on fire.
According to the Italian media, the Frankfurt team received support from around 250 Atalanta Bergamo supporters – the ultras of both clubs have been allied for many years. Already in the afternoon there had been provocations during a fan march through the city, including insulting diatribes against the fans of SSC Napoli and the residents of the city.
There had been a great deal of controversy about the game in recent weeks. The Prefecture of the City of Naples had banned the sale of tickets to away fans because there were indications that there would be riots. In response to the sales ban, Eintracht refrained from using the quota of away tickets. According to Italian media estimates, several hundred Eintracht fans traveled to Naples.
After the police brought the situation under control on Wednesday evening, some German fans were taken away by bus, while others are being escorted through the city by a police escort. Neapolitan fans threw stones and bottles at the buses in which the Eintracht fans were sitting.
