Soccer

One fan critical after shooting in Rome ahead of Italian Cup final

Match between Napoli and Fiorentina delayed by 40 minutes at Olympic Stadium

A Napoli supporter is treated after being wounded by a gun shot during clashes before the Italian Cup final between Napoli and Fiorentina near the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Photograph: Massimo Percossi/EPA
A Napoli supporter is treated after being wounded by a gun shot during clashes before the Italian Cup final between Napoli and Fiorentina near the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Photograph: Massimo Percossi/EPA
Sat May 03 2014 - 20:35

Three Napoli supporters were injured, one critically, in clashes before Saturday’s Italian Cup Final between Napoli and Fiorentina in Rome, Italian television and news agencies reported.

One man was shot in the chest as he walked towards the Olympic Stadium and taken to Villa San Pietro hospital, news agency Ansa reported. It said another supporter was shot in the arm.

The pistol used in the incidents has been found by the police, the AGI news agency said.

The clashes took place in the Tor di Quinto area close to the stadium, with rival supporters throwing firecrackers and other objects at each other ahead of the game due to kick off at 9pm local time.

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The website of daily newspaper La Repubblica reported a total of six people injured in the clashes. The police were only immediately able to confirm to Reuters the injury to the supporter shot in the chest.

The kick-off was delayed 40 minutes at the stadium with reports that Napoli fans wanted confirmation that the supporter had not died of his injuries before the game could start.