IN a week that has seen a supporter of Liverpool FC left fighting for his life after violence involving AS Roma fans before Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final, it is worth a reminder of what happened when Middlesbrough played in the Italian capital back in 2006.

Three Boro fans were stabbed and a ten were injured. A gang of organised masked youths, armed with knives, hand axes, bicycle chains and sticks, threw firecrackers and flares into a city centre square where the English supporters had gathered. Fans told how riot police failed to protect them from ambushes by the extremist “Ultras” and then baton-charged the innocent supporters. Superintendent Steve Swales, of Cleveland Police, who was in Rome to help prevent any potential trouble, said: “People were running for their lives.”

Back in 2018, and ahead of the return leg on Wednesday, fears are growing that travelling English fans will not be safe. Talks were held between Liverpool, UEFA officials, the Italian police and the Serie A club on Friday, and a statement released last night by Liverpool described the meeting as positive and productive.

Hopefully taking these preventative steps will mean the match passes off peacefully, and there is no repeat of Tuesday’s frightening scenes, or the terrible attacks on Boro fans in 2006. Sadly, there is a chance not all visiting fans will come home unscathed.

Uefa needs to get tough on repeat offenders, with clubs banned from its competitions if neccessary to send the message that football violence will not be tolerated.