Shocking moment Napoli thugs fire flares at bus of Eintracht Frankfurt supporters as 800 police officers are deployed
NAPOLI thugs fired flares at an Eintracht Frankfurt fan bus as things boiled over in Naples ahead of their Champions League clash.
The Serie A leaders clinched a 2-0 win away in Germany to bring back for the second leg – which takes place on Wednesday evening.
TwitterNapoli thugs waited for the Eintracht Frankfurt fan bus to drive past[/caption]
TwitterThey then fired flares at the bus[/caption]
TwitterFortunately there were said to be no injuries[/caption]
But there are fears the two groups could clash at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium after a video emerged of Napoli supporters aiming missiles at a bus full of travelling Frankfurt fans.
Local authorities had initially banned anyone from Germany from buying a ticket for the clash amid security fears.
However, a legal appeal eventually allowed those born or a resident of Frankfurt to purchase the Champions League tickets.
It comes after arrests and injuries were reported at the first leg amid violent altercations between the sets of fans.
According to Football Italia, 400 Frankfurt fans have already arrived in Naples, with some Atalanta ultras understood to have accompanied them after helping to bypass the restrictions.
The groups are said to have come by train from Bergamo, Salerno and Bari.
And they were greeted by Napoli thugs as a video showed flares being shot at a Frankfurt bus.
A total of 800 police officers were deployed in an attempt to diffuse the situation, with no injuries reported.
Atalanta recently faced bitter rivals Napoli in a near-empty ground as the ultras had been banned due to security concerns.
Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo has released a video before the second leg urging supporters not to engage in any violent behaviour.
He said: “We are having an exceptional season and tomorrow we can make Napoli history if we manage to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
“We must all try to have a good day without disorder or quarrels with whoever arrives in the city. Not only at the stadium but in the streets, in the squares, everywhere.
“As your captain, I ask you not to fall into provocations. Let’s try to make tomorrow a day of celebration.
“We do not accept any provocation. Everyone in the stadium with serenity and joy.”
