Napoli and Udinese fans fight ON THE PITCH after Spalletti’s side clinch the Scudetto with a draw
Napoli and Udinese fans fight on the pitch after Luciano Spalletti’s side took the Scudetto with a draw on Thursday night, with belts used as weapons in mass brawl
Fans of Napoli and Udinese battled on the pitch after Luciano Spalletti’s side won the Scudetto at Udinese on Thursday night.
Napoli fans rushed onto the pitch to celebrate with players after the 1-1 draw, only to be met by hostile home supporters armed with belts and batons, the ANSA news agency said.
Riot police intervened to end the fighting and six fans reportedly suffered non-serious injuries, RAI public television said.
Napoli claimed a third crown after a draw against mid-division club Udinese.
The draw gave Luciano Spalletti’s side an unassailable 16-point lead over second-placed Lazio with just five games remaining in the season.
Rival supporters clashed on the pitch after Napoli captured the Scudetto at Udinese
Napoli fans were met by hostile home supporters armed with belts and batons
Riot police intervened on Thursday evening to break up the fighting in the Dacia Arena
‘Yes! We are the champion’s supporter, Roberto Santoniello told Reuters TV, proudly wearing his club’s shirt as others shouted, waved flags, lit flares and fired firecrackers in the main square of Trieste and Trento.
Udinese is located in northeastern Italy, more than 500 miles from Naples, so many Napoli fans stayed home and watched the match at their local Maradona stadium, which was specially equipped with eight giant screens.
The US consulate last week issued a security alert saying “spontaneous celebrations could last several days” and warned of “heavy traffic or road closures, heavy use of fireworks and alcohol consumption throughout the city.”
The police had banned fireworks, but that did not prevent the Neapolitan sky from lighting up once the game against Udinese was over. Authorities have also banned car and scooter traffic from the city center in hopes of minimizing the risk to public order.
After a stellar season, the Neapolitans have been gearing up for title celebrations for weeks, putting aside their usual superstition about claiming victory before it happens.
Streamers, banners, flags, scarves and life-size cardboard replicas of Napoli’s current footballers, including Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, have decorated the city centre.
The late Maradona is also still revered, celebrated on fans’ t-shirts, banners or tattoos, and on a giant mural in Naples’ Miracles Square, which has become a major attraction in the countdown to the Scudetto.
Another Udinese fan is confronted by two police officers as he tries to disrupt the festivities
Two supporters clash in front of riot police, while another watches with his belt in hand