Frankfurt fans clash with police in Naples

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — The Napoli center was at the center of a serious clash between Eintracht Frankfurt fans and police ahead of the German club’s Champions League game against Napoli on Wednesday.

Fans smashed car windows and threw flares, chairs and other objects. Passers-by had to take refuge in bars and restaurants. A police car and other vehicles were set on fire.

Riot police eventually calmed the situation by taking fans to their hotels.

Further clashes could be avoided, since most of the Napoli “ultras” were prevented from clashing with the Germans. Anyway, they threw stones and bottles at the buses.

“I monitor what is happening in our homes. It is an unacceptable situation typical of a guerrilla fight,” Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi said on Twitter. “My thanks to the police forces who acted to guarantee the security of the city. I beg the Neapolitans, be responsible.”

It was not possible to immediately confirm whether they had made any arrests or injuries.

Police were on high alert in the Italian city – more than 800 officers were mobilized – after 600 fans arrived from Germany as Frankfurt gave up its batch of Round of 16 tickets in protest . This amount was increased by the ultras of Atalanta, which maintains a rivalry with Naples.

The German club have rejected a decision by Napoli authorities to ban fans residing in Frankfurt from buying tickets, after incidents between supporters during the first leg in Germany.

Napoli won 2-0 in the first leg, but local police made several arrests in the previous hours due to altercations between supporters.