Italian football bosses have offered an apology for the violent anti-Semitic incidents which greeted Tottenham fans in Rome, leaving several supporters in hospital and causing uproar in the Jewish community.
The incidents marred Spurs’ visit to the Italian capital for a Europa League game against Lazio on Thursday, prior to which fans of the London club were attacked in a pub by a group of around 40 thugs.
During the match some sections of the Lazio support brandished a banner which read “Free Palestine” and sang “Juden Tottenham” (“Tottenham Jews” in German) at the visiting fans, whose club have a historical Jewish connection.
Police have since arrested two of the assailants and charged them with attempted murder. Reports Friday said the pair are known to have connections with Rome’s other Serie A club, AS Roma.
Italian football federation chief Giancarlo Abete said the gravity of the affair warranted an apology to Tottenham and the victims.
In a letter addressed to English Football Association chairman David Bernstein, Abete wrote: “I have already had the opportunity to publicly express my condemnation and outrage at what has happened.