Monday 30 April 2018 13:04, UK
English fans travelling to Rome are at "high risk" of unprovoked attacks, says a football hooliganism expert.
Dr Geoff Pearson, lecturer of law at Manchester University, has warned of archaic policing tactics in the Italian capital ahead of Liverpool's Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
Violence outside Anfield ahead of last Tuesday's first leg left 53-year-old Liverpool fan Sean Cox in a critical condition in hospital, for which two Italian men have been charged.
Ahead of the return leg, Liverpool have issued advice for supporters not to walk to the stadium "under any circumstances" as part of an ongoing collaboration with UEFA and Roma.
Pearson said the city becomes "possibly the highest risk" location on the continent when Roma are involved in a major European fixture.
"Trips to Rome are incredibly high risk for English fans," he told Sky Sports News. "We've seen numerous issues where English fans have been targeted.
"They have been victims of largely unprovoked attacks.
"Most Liverpool fans will be experienced travellers, they will know what to expect and how to reduce the risk.
"Unfortunately there are no guarantees for fans you're not going to see problems whatsoever.
"These attacks could come from nowhere and they are largely completely unprovoked."
Pearson warned Liverpool fans will not only face problems from Roma supporters.
"There's the activities of the local ultra groups looking to attack fans, a history of violence and finally old-fashioned, reactionary show-of-force policing tactics," he said.
"A lot of the violence we've seen on English fans has been by the police.
"There seems to be only one set way of policing matches at the Stadio Olimpico and it doesn't seem to be able to adapt to how English fans will be when they are in Rome."
