A day of tension..Roma-Verona

Grudge match lives up to it's name.

It's always a tense game whenever Roma meet Verona, a historical rivalry on and off the pitch. Yesterday there we a few incidents that highlight this fact, which ended in a cowardly attack by some Roma 'fans' after the game on the Verona team coach.

Around 600 Butei travelled to the capital, and although most entered the ground with no problems, one coach was attacked by stone throwing Roma fans. Nothing too serious as the Roma fans ran away when the police charged them and used tear gas. Two policemen were hurt in these clashes.

Roma's Curva Sud was closed for one game so many went into Curva Nord, very close to the Verona fans. As usual, there were chants directed at each other, and once Roma took the lead a flare was thrown into the Verona end by the celebrating Roma tifosi.

After the game there was little problems as the Verona fans travelled back to the north, although there was one major incident. Some Roma fans attacked the players coach as it neared the motorway, smashing windows. Luckily no-one was hurt but the club couldn't travel home, having to travel via train on the Monday.

Mandorlini commented on the situation "I don't really want to talk about it, although the stones smashed and sent glass flying. We're lucky, because it didn't hit the driver. It could have been worse".

Maurizio Setti, Verona president was of course angry, saying "This is a very regrettable situation, and we are lucky things weren't worse. Football shouldn't be about iron bars and stones. I hope the perpetrators are severely punished."

The return game is in January.