Supporter partnership

Udinese fans storm train – Salzburg fans arrested

Fans of Udinese Calcio (archive picture)

(Bild: APA/AFP/ANDREA PATTARO)

Supporters of Italian first division soccer club Udinese Calcio stopped and attacked a train carrying tifosi from rival club Venezia Calcio on Saturday evening with the support of fans of Austria Salzburg, with whom they have had a partnership for years. The incident took place after the match between Udinese and Venezia (3:2) on Saturday afternoon. At least six Salzburg players were injured and five others were taken to the police station, according to media reports. 

In order to stop the train from Udine to Venice with many Venetian fans on board, around 50 masked Udinese hooligans armed with batons and sticks lit several fires on the tracks. They were supported by several Salzburgers. The train was stopped near Basiliano station shortly after leaving Udine.

Hooligans threw stones at the carriages
To force the train to stop, the hooligans threw stones at the carriages. According to the police, there were around 300 Venice fans and around 130 other passengers in the carriages who had not attended the soccer match and were frightened by the attack.

When the stone-throwing began, numerous Venice hooligans stormed out of the train. This led to violent clashes. The brawl only lasted a few minutes, however, as the police intervened. A police helicopter played a decisive role, reaching and flying over the area immediately after receiving the emergency call, illuminating the area and putting the attackers to flight.

Two of the most seriously injured - a Venetian and a man from Salzburg - were taken to hospital in Udine, but their lives are not in danger, according to media reports. Five other Salzburg fans and two Udinese fans suffered severe bruising but refused to be taken to hospital. Two police officers had to be treated in the emergency room.

Police arrested seven people
At the end of the clashes, police arrested eight people and took them to the police station in Udine. According to the police, the suspected members of the group of attackers were five Austrian citizens, one Bosnian living in Austria and two Friulians. They are being held in the Udine prison and are due to undergo summary proceedings in court on Monday, according to a Udine police spokesman. They are accused of disrupting rail traffic, violence, resisting the police and using firecrackers and sticks during a sporting event.

The train was able to continue its journey to Venice after an hour and a half. There had already been riots during the Serie A match in Udine, with smoke being thrown onto the pitch. Security had been tightened for the match. The police in Udine had been informed of Salzburg's presence. However, they had obviously not expected an attack in Basiliano, where the train was not due to stop, as it is a secondary station.

Clubs and government member condemn incidents
Both clubs involved condemned the incidents. "The true fans of Udinese Calcio have always been correct and share our values, those who defile the sport with violence are not fans," emphasized the home club. "We trust the work of the competent authorities so that those responsible for these unacceptable incidents are identified and punished according to the law," Venezia said in a statement. "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the injured and their families."

The case is now also of concern to the Italian government. "The attack on the train and the unprecedented violence by a group of rioters is unacceptable," declared Luca Ciriani, Minister for Relations with Parliament, who comes from Friuli and belongs to the Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. "I am sure that those responsible for this regrettable act will be condemned with the utmost severity."