ENGLAND fans face a security nightmare as their Euro 2024 qualifying clash against Italy will be staged in Napoli.
The Italian Football Federation yesterday announced that the March 23 clash will be held at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
There have been repeated incidents involving English fans in Naples, most recently when Liverpool played there in the Champions League in September.
Liverpool fans were told by the club to remain in their hotels and to not reveal their colours but there were still incidents in the city before the game.
Some fans were chased down streets or attacked in bars – three years after Reds’ supporters suffered head injuries when Napoli hooligans pelted crowds with glass bottles.
Arsenal and Leicester followers have also faced problems.
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And following Italy’s Euro 2020 final victory over England a police officer was stabbed in the stomach and several other people attacked.
Shards of glass, fireworks, and bottles were strewn across the city after violent scenes erupted once Roberto Mancini’s men won the penalty shootout.
The FA are likely to give England’s fans a similar message in what is Italy’s first game in the southern city since 2014.
Italian cops have previously warned of fans being targeted by Napoli’s ultras.
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England lost to Italy 1-0 in Milan in the Nations League in September and this will be the Three Lions’ first game since the World Cup.
England then entertain Ukraine on March 26.
Naples has long had problems in the city centre near the notorious Forcella district, which was known for the area’s Mafia – the Camorra.
In the path tourists have been advised to steer of Forcella.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
