Attacks on police officers, burning cars - violent riots in Naples

Serious riots broke out in the city center before SSC Napoli's Champions League game against Eintracht Frankfurt. As could be seen on videos, tables and chairs were thrown at police officers by hooded ultras and Eintracht hooligans on Wednesday afternoon. At least one police car and other civilian vehicles were set on fire, and pyrotechnics were also used. Shop windows in nearby shops were also destroyed.

According to media reports, the supporters of the Bundesliga soccer club attacked the emergency services at central locations in the city. According to the Italian news agency Ansa, some hooded people are said to have previously attacked a bar in downtown Naples by throwing bottles. With a train from the port to the city center of a few hundred Frankfurters, it initially remained quiet.

It took a while before the police seemed to get the situation under control. The emergency services managed to put the ultras in buses and bring them back to their hotel in the waterfront from downtown. The buses were reportedly pelted with stones and bottles by Napoli fans.

Despite a ban on ticket sales for football fans from Frankfurt, hundreds of Eintracht supporters traveled to Naples, most by train. The first incident occurred on the evening before the game: unknown persons fired flares at buses in which the German fans were being driven through the city to their hotel.

According to local media reports, these were Naples ultras who were ambushing the rival Frankfurters. As could be seen on an amateur video, the buses were able to continue. Previously, the police had registered every single fan before the fans were driven away in buses. Among them were reportedly ultras and hooligans from Atalanta Bergamo, considered hostile to Napoli supporters. The hotel where the fans were staying was locked down overnight.

The tension in the city is enormous. Around 800 police, carabinieri and special units were scheduled to prevent riots, as reported by the Ansa news agency. In the first leg in Frankfurt, there were clashes and attacks against Italian fans.

The Prefecture of Naples had forbidden fans from Frankfurt to come to the stadium and canceled their tickets. Eintracht reacted with outrage and completely waived their contingent of away tickets. She also called on her followers not to travel to Naples.