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FOOTBALL

Rome riot: Dutch fans clash with police

One of Rome's best-known squares was left looking like a war-zone after clashes between police and supporters of Feyenoord on Thursday.

Rome riot: Dutch fans clash with police
Rubbish and broken bottles strewn on the ground near Rome's Spanish Steps. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Hundreds of the Dutch club's fans, many of whom had been drinking heavily in the Rome sunshine, hurled smoke bombs and other projectiles at a large contingent of police in the Piazza di Spagna, witnesses said.

The police reacted by charging them and clearing the square before shepherding the Dutch supporters onto buses bound for the city's Olympic Stadium, where Feyenoord was due to face Roma in a Europa League match on Thursday evening.

Rome mayor Ignazio Marino took to Twitter to voice his anger, describing the city as "devastated and injured."

Marino said he had been in touch with the Netherlands' ambassador. "This will not stop here," he said.

After the clash the square was left strewn with bottles, cans and other detritus. Many of the surrounding shops had pulled down their shutters and closed.

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

https://twitter.com/GravesenFumado/status/1764242481984491822

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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