Liverpool fans could be kept inside Stadio Olimpico until 1am

Liverpool supporters could be kept inside the Stadio Olimpico until 1am following Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final with Roma on safety grounds.

Amid fears that factions of the Roma support will target and attack Liverpool fans visiting the city for the second leg, local police are prepared to keep them behind for two-and-a-half hours after the final whistle if necessary.

Authorities will only allow Liverpool fans to leave the stadium once home supporters have completely dispersed to minimise the potential for trouble.

Liverpool supporters sing their way through the evening as they arrive in Rome on Tuesday

The supporters are looking forward to Liverpool's Champions League showdown with Roma

The supporters are looking forward to Liverpool’s Champions League showdown with Roma

The Reds travel to the Italian capital boasting a 5-2 aggregate lead from last week's first leg

The Reds travel to the Italian capital boasting a 5-2 aggregate lead from last week’s first leg

Liverpool fans could be kept inside the Stadio Olimpico until 1am as a security precaution 

Liverpool fans could be kept inside the Stadio Olimpico until 1am as a security precaution 

It comes after Roma hooligans attacked Liverpool fan Sean Cox, 53, outside Anfield ahead of last Tuesday’s first leg, leaving him with severe head injuries.

Italian police have mounted an enormous security operation to keep the estimated 5,000 Liverpool fans in Rome safe from Ultra groups who may attack them.

Giampietro Lionetti, head of the Rome police special branch, confirmed that Liverpool supporters could be kept inside the away section of the Stadio Olimpico until the early hours if necessary.

The match will finish at around 10.30pm local time unless it goes to extra time or penalties in the event Roma match Liverpool’s 5-2 margin of victory from the first leg.

‘If all goes well, we will let the Liverpool fans out earlier, but it could happen,’ he said.

Italian police officers watch on as the Liverpool supporters make themselves known

Italian police officers watch on as the Liverpool supporters make themselves known

Reds supporters pose for a picture outside a local bar on Wednesday evening

Reds supporters pose for a picture outside a local bar on Wednesday evening

A group of Reds supporters climb on top of a green container to lead the chants

A group of Reds supporters climb on top of a green container to lead the chants

Barcelona supporters in Roma for last month’s quarter-final were kept in the ground until 1am despite there being less risk of trouble.

If Liverpool fans are kept in, it could impact on charter flights back to England in the early hours, with the first of these scheduled to depart at 1.15am local time.

Lionetti added: ‘We need to work to keep hardcore fans from both sides separated.’

The eve of the match appeared to be peaceful as Liverpool fans arrived in the Italian capital amid tight security.

They have been advised to avoid certain areas, not travel to the Stadio Olimpico independently and to assemble at the Villa Borghese park where buses will be laid on to the stadium.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appealed for calm in his press conference ahead of the fixture.

Police in Rome have given Liverpool fans safe zones, while warning them to avoid certain areas

Police in Rome have given Liverpool fans safe zones, while warning them to avoid certain areas

Italian police have urged Liverpool fans to be careful amid fears of violence in Rome this week

Italian police have urged Liverpool fans to be careful amid fears of violence in Rome this week

A huge 5,000 Liverpool supporters are expected to descend on Rome for the match this week

A huge 5,000 Liverpool supporters are expected to descend on Rome for the match this week

The first leg was marred by violence outside the stadium, in which a Liverpool fan was attacked

The first leg was marred by violence outside the stadium, in which a Liverpool fan was attacked

Manchester United fans previously fought with police during a match against Roma in 2007

Manchester United fans previously fought with police during a match against Roma in 2007

Klopp said: ‘I would have given a one-and-a-half-hour speech if I thought that somebody would listen to it — the right people would listen to it — about why it is important to behave in a right way, but obviously that doesn’t really work.

‘I trust in the police, and all the other forces who do these things.

‘Me, I will prepare a football game and it is quite special because it is a semi-final. But I cannot imagine why somebody goes there and plans something around the football game. I don’t know why they have these thoughts and why they want to express themselves in these moments and have these little or bigger fights.

‘I have absolutely no tolerance for these things.

‘I really hope we are already over the mountain and people are a little bit more aware of what could happen and are responsible.

‘If somebody (misbehaves), then it should be really massive, the punishment.’

 



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