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FA to investigate alleged anti-Semitic chanting during Tottenham and Lazio Europa League clash

 

Friday 23 November 2012 11:44 GMT
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The incidents at the match followed an attack on Spurs supporters in the early hours of Thursday morning in a bar in Rome. Eleven people were injured in the attack, and one of them was recovering from being stabbed in the head and leg.
The incidents at the match followed an attack on Spurs supporters in the early hours of Thursday morning in a bar in Rome. Eleven people were injured in the attack, and one of them was recovering from being stabbed in the head and leg.

The FA will pass on its own report on the alleged anti-Semitic chanting during last night's Europa League game between Lazio and Tottenham to UEFA.

Shortly after revealing a 'Free Palestine' banner, a section of the home support began singing "Juden Tottenham" to the fans of the London club, who have a historical Jewish connection.

UEFA would not comment on the matter last night, saying it would only be able to look in to the issue if it was mentioned in the match delegate's report, which is due to arrive with European football's governing body today.

The incidents at the match followed an attack on Spurs supporters in the early hours of Thursday morning in a bar in Rome. Eleven people were injured in the attack, and one of them was recovering from being stabbed in the head and leg.

An FA spokesperson said: "We were saddened and alarmed to see reports of violent incidents prior to the game as well as anti-Semitic chants.

"The FA had a crowd control advisor present at the fixture who will provide an urgent report which we will pass on to UEFA as a matter of priority."

UEFA fined Lazio £32,500 for their fans monkey chanting at three Spurs players during the reverse fixture in September, and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas hopes the organisation move swiftly to establish the facts.

"It will take another investigation," the Tottenham manager said.

"It happened last time and it was acted upon quickly by UEFA. We will have to wait and see if there is anything to act upon. If there is UEFA have to act."

News of the attack sparked outrage among the people of Rome and the 3,000 fans who had made the trip from Britain to the Italian capital to support their team.

One Spurs fan caught up in the attack recalled how the attackers beat a group of around 30 people with planks of wood and knuckle dusters after throwing gas canisters into the Drunken Ship pub.

"We heard smashing glass, shouting and then smoke. I thought there was a fire but we realised they'd thrown gas in to the pub - that's why they had scarves over their faces," said the Spurs fan, who did not want to be named.

"There were about 30 of them - they pushed through the pub and pinned us back into a corner.

"They grabbed anything they could and hit us with it.

"The attack lasted about 10 minutes but it felt like longer.

"I feared the worst. I have got two young kids and I was just thinking...

"I ended up with a couple of bruises but if I had been at the front then God knows what would have happened to me.

"It was like something out of a film."

Lazio denied their fans had been responsible for the attack.

The Italian giants were last night denied victory thanks to a top-class performance from Hugo Lloris.

The goalless draw means Tottenham now only have to draw their final Europa League group game against Panathinaikos next month to progress to the knockout stages.

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