Rome, Feb 14 (IANS): Four people were shot and seriously injured in a brawl between fans of Lazio and Sevilla in downtown Rome where the two squads will face off on Thursday in the first of two round-of-32 UEFA Europa League playoff matches.
The violence erupted around 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday near the Coliseum where four people - two Spaniards, an American and a Briton - were shot, reports Efe news.
The wounded were quickly taken to Spirito Santo Hospital where one of them is said to be in particularly bad shape.
The fight involved more than 40 people and some of them took refuge in nearby bars and restaurants when the gunfire broke out.
According to initial reports, a group of Lazio fans wearing masks and armed with truncheons and knives attacked some young people and Sevilla fans who were on Leonina Street, wounding some of them in the legs.