FIFA Friendlies, England vs Italy: In a disturbing turn of events prior to this week’s Euro qualifier in Naples, hooligans have disrupted plans for a friendly match between England and Italy fans. With roughly 2,500 fans expected to travel for Thursday’s game, there are concerns about the crowd’s safety as Gareth Southgate’s team journeys to this volatile location. Follow all football updates on Insidesport.IN.
Last week, violence erupted prior to the Champions League match between Naples and Eintracht Frankfurt, highlighting the city’s history of hooliganism.
Current scenes in Naples as Frankfurt and Napoli fans clash..
Friendly reminder that England play Italy there next week… 🙃 pic.twitter.com/TqFuomAoir
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) March 15, 2023
Despite reassurances from Gareth Southgate that the Football Association (FA) had taken measures to ensure the safety of fans, Sportsmail has obtained a threatening email directed towards England fans FC, a group organizing a pre-match game against their Italian counterparts on the same day as the match.
Garford Beck, an organizer, and lifelong England fan has received an anonymous note warning him that hooligans will target him and other fans. The letter, which criticized Beck for promoting the game publicly, threatened Napoli’s infamous ultras “come for you” and that 60 of them will “get you“.
This threatening email came after problems that disrupted Napoli’s Champions League match against Frankfurt. As a result of the threats, the line-up for the match organized by Beck with an Italian amateur team is now in doubt, and he is in discussions with the FIGC, the supporters’ group of Italy, and the authorities.
Beck explained: “I was going through my email and my eyes almost popped out. I had no choice but to contact our friends in Italy to see if this was a viable threat. They take it really seriously and meet with the police and local authorities. They have said that if they cannot guarantee our safety, they will cancel it, which is such a shame for us and them. I felt like I had no choice but to tag it and we’ll have to wait and see.“
The game, scheduled to begin at 2 pm at the Centro Universitario Sportivo, has already cost the organizer £220 for custom pennants and plaques. However, there are concerns that England fans traveling to Naples this week could face trouble, as evidenced by the clashes that occurred during the Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli.
FIFA Friendlies: England vs Italy cancelled? Fans threatened by hooligans, Crowd safety concerns grow after Napoli saga – Check out
In that match, Eintracht supporters disregarded a ban and clashed with riot police and Napoli ultras, resulting in the arrest of five Italians and three Germans. Despite traditionally not being enthusiastic supporters of their national team, there are fears that English fans could still be targeted.
Last September, Liverpool fans were advised not to wear club colors or congregate in the city center as they “could be the target of theft, robbery or assault” ahead of their Champions League game against Napoli.
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