Injuries after Football 'Ultras' Ambush Rivals' Train in Italy

Udinese's Lorenzo Lucca celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian soccer Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Venezia FC at the Bluenergy stadium in Udine, Italy, 01 February 2025. (EPA)
Udinese's Lorenzo Lucca celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian soccer Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Venezia FC at the Bluenergy stadium in Udine, Italy, 01 February 2025. (EPA)
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Injuries after Football 'Ultras' Ambush Rivals' Train in Italy

Udinese's Lorenzo Lucca celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian soccer Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Venezia FC at the Bluenergy stadium in Udine, Italy, 01 February 2025. (EPA)
Udinese's Lorenzo Lucca celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian soccer Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Venezia FC at the Bluenergy stadium in Udine, Italy, 01 February 2025. (EPA)

Hard-core Udinese fans stopped a train carrying rivals from Venice on Saturday in an ambush that caused several injuries after a match between the two Italian clubs, reports said Sunday.

The AGI news agency reported that six people were injured and 11 arrested after the Saturday evening clashes near Basiliano station, not far from Udine, while La Gazetta dello Sport daily put the injured at 11, with eight arrests.

Udine police were unable to confirm any details when contacted by AFP.

According the reports, around 50 masked Udinese "ultras" went onto the track and launched smoke bombs to stop the train carrying Venice supporters back home after the Serie A match, which Udinese won 3-2.

They threw stones at the train, carrying 300 Venezia supporters as well as other passengers, and then hit rivals who descended onto the platform with sticks and batons.

Police intervened, including with a helicopter, and quickly put an end to the fighting.

Among the injured, two were hospitalized, but they are not in a life-threatening condition, the reports said.

The match had been highlighted as high risk after violence erupted when the teams met in Venice on October 30, when Udinese fans were attacked near the train station before they returned home.

According to the Italian press, the Udinese hooligans this weekend were backed by ultras from the Austrian club Salzburg, with whom they have links.



Juventus Coach Motta Faces Sleepless Night After Atalanta Thrashing 

Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 9, 2025 Juventus coach Thiago Motta. (Reuters) 
Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 9, 2025 Juventus coach Thiago Motta. (Reuters) 
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Juventus Coach Motta Faces Sleepless Night After Atalanta Thrashing 

Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 9, 2025 Juventus coach Thiago Motta. (Reuters) 
Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 9, 2025 Juventus coach Thiago Motta. (Reuters) 

Juventus coach Thiago Motta said it would be difficult to sleep after his team were hammered 4-0 at home by Atalanta on Sunday in a major blow to their slim hopes of the Serie A title.

Juventus's five-game winning streak in the league came to an end and they remain fourth in the table with 52 points, nine behind leaders Inter Milan, in a disappointing season after they were knocked out of the Champions League and the Coppa Italia.

"Atalanta deserved to win and we knew our opponents' game plan," Motta told reporters.

"Today we are disappointed and it will be difficult to sleep. Everything can influence us, because we are Juventus. The fans, like the press, have the right to think what they want.

"The facts say that we are in this position. This team has an enormous margin for growth. After the first goal we suffered a lot. We are quite disappointed and now we have to start thinking about the next game."

Juventus had not suffered a Serie A home defeat by four or more goals since 1967, but Motta said last month's 4-2 loss on penalties to Empoli in the Italian Cup quarter-finals was more painful.

"It is a defeat we do not like, but I do not put it on the same level as the defeat to Empoli," he said. "They are different situations. We needed to keep our balance and we didn't do that, but it's partly down to a lack of experience in the side."

Juventus play at Fiorentina next Sunday.