Real Sociedad Fans Attacked in Rome Ahead of Europa League Match at Lazio

Lazio's fans support their team before the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Como at Rome's Olympic stadium, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Lazio's fans support their team before the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Como at Rome's Olympic stadium, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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Real Sociedad Fans Attacked in Rome Ahead of Europa League Match at Lazio

Lazio's fans support their team before the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Como at Rome's Olympic stadium, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Lazio's fans support their team before the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Como at Rome's Olympic stadium, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Nine Real Sociedad fans were injured in central Rome during clashes with Lazio supporters on the eve of Thursday's Europa League match between the two teams, police said.
About 70 Spanish supporters were attacked by around 80 Lazio supporters in Via Leonina, near the Colosseum, at about 11 p.m. (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, a Rome police spokesperson said.
Six of the nine people wounded were taken to hospital, and four were discharged overnight. Of the two still hospitalized, one was in critical, but not life-threatening condition, police said.
Attackers used blunt objects and knives, police added, releasing a picture of weapons presumed to have been used, including a hammer, sticks and batons, wrenches and a chain.
The attackers fled as the police arrived, the spokesperson said.



Saudi Football Federation Chairman Meets FIFA Global Football Development Chief

Saudi Football Federation Chairman Meets FIFA Global Football Development Chief
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Saudi Football Federation Chairman Meets FIFA Global Football Development Chief

Saudi Football Federation Chairman Meets FIFA Global Football Development Chief

Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) Chairman Yasser bin Hassan Al-Misehal met with FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger in Riyadh.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between SAFF's technical department and FIFA's football development division, SPA reported.

Their discussions centered on improving technical operations within the Saudi federation.
Wenger also toured SAFF's technical department, where he was briefed on national team strategies and current working procedures.
This meeting is part of SAFF's ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation with FIFA, aligning with its global influence strategy launched in September 2021.