Roma’s first European away trip of the season was marked not only by an intense match on the pitch, but by violent scenes off it, scenes that UEFA had hoped would be a thing of the past. Shocking images emerged from the streets of Nice, showing objects being thrown and fans roaming the city wearing balaclavas, prompting alarm at the highest levels of European football.
The behaviour of Roma’s ultras has been under scrutiny for some time, following notable incidents in Budapest in 2023 and further clashes in Bilbao this past March. Tensions boiled over again on Tuesday night, with violent confrontations erupting between Roma fans, local police, and supporters of OGC Nice. The situation escalated further when police checkpoints uncovered hammers, brass knuckles, metal bars, and knives in the possession of travelling Roma supporters.
The consequences were immediate: 102 arrests, with 89 fans released shortly afterwards and handed six-month bans from entering the Alpes-Maritimes region. The remaining 13 individuals, believed to have owned the weapons, face trial in Nice on 26 November. They stand accused of organising violent disorder and carrying prohibited weapons.
In response to the incidents, UEFA is reportedly preparing to impose an away fan travel ban on Roma for the remainder of the Europa League group stage. This would mean the club’s supporters would be barred from attending matches in Glasgow, against both Celtic and Rangers, and the away fixture in Athens against Panathinaikos, a match deemed high-risk due to the historic friendship between Roma’s Curva Sud and Panathinaikos, and the potential for clashes with Olympiacos fans, who are rivals of both.
Should UEFA confirm the travel ban, it would represent a significant blow to Roma’s organised supporter base and a stark warning for fan behaviour on the European stage.
