January 29 – A Chelsea supporter was taken to hospital after being stabbed in Naples ahead of the club’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Napoli, an incident that cast a shadow over an otherwise successful night for the Club World Cup champions.
The supporter, a 22-year-old Chelsea fan named Marcus who asked not to give his surname, was attacked in the city centre on Tuesday evening while travelling with a small group of fellow supporters. Chelsea went on to win the match 3-2 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, a result that secured automatic qualification for the round of 16.
Marcus told the BBC that the group was confronted by a larger number of Napoli supporters in a poorly lit area of the city. “We turned a corner – it wasn’t technically an alleyway, but it felt like one because there were no lights,” he said. “There were about 20 or 30 people, all in black, walking towards us as soon as we made eye contact. Some people knew what was happening and ran straight away.”
He added: “It was definitely a shock. Everyone was shaken up when we eventually found the police. I was in shorts and they were covered in blood, with blood going all down my leg. We think it was a screwdriver – it could’ve been a Stanley blade.”
Marcus was treated in hospital from late Tuesday night into the early hours of Wednesday morning before later reporting the incident to police. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening. A second Chelsea supporter was also treated in hospital after being punched and kicked.
Chelsea confirmed the incident in a statement, saying: “The club is aware of an incident that took place on Tuesday evening in Naples. Two fans are being treated in hospital, having sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The club would like to remind all supporters to exercise extreme caution whilst in the city and take note of the advice shared ahead of this fixture.”
Despite the ordeal, Marcus said he still attended the match, having avoided serious injury, but planned to leave Naples shortly afterwards.
The fixture took place under standard UEFA security arrangements, with local authorities instead responsible for public order away from the stadium. Naples is recognised as a particularly dangerous away destination for travelling European fans – mentioned by the club itself in an advice package ahead of the fixture.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1769689291labto1769689291ofdlr1769689291owedi1769689291sni@g1769689291niwe.1769689291yrrah1769689291
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