Violence broke out at the Campo de' Fiori on the eve of the game, which resulted in the arrest of 23 fans. However, there were further clashes on Thursday, with riot police charging a group of Feyenoord supporters at the Piazza di Spagna. The Dutch club's fans damaged the fountain at the foot of the renowned 'Spanish Steps' and forced local shop owners to close out of fear for the safety of their customers.
"At one point it looked like a warzone," baker Fabrizio Roscioli is quoted as saying by ANSA. "They threw bottles and fought among themselves."
The supporters then launched bottles and stones at the riot police when the law enforcement officers arrived at the scene.
A spokesman for the Netherlands embassy in Rome condoned the violence but was at pains to point out that those responsible represent only a small minority of the Feyenoord faithful.
“There’s a group, a sort of “Black Block” who has nothing to share with the real Feyenoord supporters. This group of people got drunk and behaved in a very shameful way. We fully trust in Italian police."
Feyenoord were allocated 5,000 tickets for the last-32 first-leg encounter but the Dutch club had requested at least 800 more. According to the latest reports, there are currently 1,500 ticketless fans in the Italian capital.
As a result of the continued threat of further violence, extra security measures have been taken at the Stadio Olimpico, with 1,300 police set to be in attendance, as well as 700 stewards.
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