Roma’s European night at the Stadio Olimpico was interrupted by serious disorder in the away end, where clashes involving Slovan Bratislava supporters and a group of Polish ultras left one police officer injured and led to two arrests.
The disturbance began around 10 minutes into the second half, shortly before Malen scored Roma’s fourth goal in a 4-0 win. Nearly 2,000 Slovan fans were in the visiting section, alongside Polish supporters linked to Wisla Krakow, a group with established ties to sections of Lazio’s ultras scene.
Security line breached in the away section
The tension developed inside the visiting area when members of the Polish contingent crossed the steward cordon separating them from the adjacent Curva Nord, where Roma supporters were located. Objects were thrown towards the home end, with those involved attempting to get closer to the dividing barriers and reportedly putting the stadium’s glass partitions at risk.
Police units entered the away section to restore control. During the intervention, an officer was injured and had to be carried away by colleagues. Shields and batons were also reportedly taken during the disorder and thrown in the direction of the Curva Nord.
Order was restored after approximately 20 minutes, allowing the match to continue without further reported incidents inside the ground.
Slovak and Polish ultras arrested
Rome police subsequently arrested two men on stadium-related charges: one Slovak supporter and one Polish supporter. The investigation was launched immediately after the incidents, with officers working to identify further people believed to have taken part in the violence.
Both arrested fans are expected to receive DASPO orders from the Rome police chief, barring them from sporting events. Further enquiries remain under way into other visiting supporters connected with the unrest.
The episode could also bring consequences for Slovan Bratislava beyond the two individual cases. The Slovak club now faces the possibility that its supporters could be prohibited from attending future Champions League away matches.
