AFTER witnessing the heavy- handed approach of the police in Rome, the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority is writing to the city's mayor, Walter Veltroni, to express his anger.

Councillor Dave McLuckie said he was appalled and disgusted by the treatment doled out to Middlesbrough fans who had travelled to Italy for the club's biggest game in its history, on Wednesday night.

The life-long Boro fan blames the Italian police for continually provoking the travelling fans by using batons to move innocent supporters and seizing personal items as they tried to enter the stadium.

"We were treated like animals," he said. "I was appalled and disgusted with the way the Italian police behaved. There was no excuse for the way they treated the Middlesbrough supporters.

"The Roma fans were allowed into the stadium with flares, firecrackers and all sorts of missiles, but when we tried to get in they were even confiscating cigarettes and lighters. They were even taking make-up and perfume off female supporters -- it was absolutely disgraceful."

Riot police were accused of baton-charging innocent Middlesbrough fans and failing to act to prevent extremist "Ultras" - the name given to a fascist and fanatical group of so-called supporters - from ambushing them.

Three Boro fans were stabbed and a further ten were injured when trouble flared in a city centre square on Tuesday night.

An organised gang of masked youths, armed with knives, hand axes, bicycle chains and sticks, threw firecrackers and flares into the square before baton-wielding police moved in and allegedly rounded up the English.

Following the Uefa Cup tie on Wednesday, the 3,500 Boro fans were held back in the Olympic Stadium for almost two hours to prevent further problems.

Coun McLuckie praised the behaviour of the Boro fans, saying: "We should be proud of the way our supporters behaved under extreme provocation.

"If away supporters were treated like that at the Riverside, I would want the chief constable to explain what had happened.

"The whole situation was an absolute disgrace from beginning to end.

"I hope the mayor will take note of what happened and ensure no visiting fans have to endure that kind of treatment ever again."