Italian football

[mushRTID]

Booked a weekend in Rome just so happens lazio v juve is the same weekend.

Seem crazy bas**rds those Italian football fans though, anyone been to a match? Any problems?

[wilts rover]

I went to Naples to see Napoli v Roma, which is a derby in the same way Millwall - West Ham is. We have police on horses managing our crowds - they have them in armoured cars and squadroned with machine guns! It was also two weeks before that Liverpool match where the stabbings happened.

And I had a great time. Took my mate with me who hates football - and he had a great time too. In the sides rather than with the ultras behind the goal and the locals were great. They soon found out we were english and came out with the Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, and got a bit confused with Doncaster Rovers. Seemed quite happy with Napoli prima uno tho.

For noise, colour, atmosphere, you can't beat it and you have to go. Cost me something like 30 euro. Beware the crowd will be more entertaining than the football tho.

[Highland Rover]

Went to a number of Roma games in the late eighties , great atmosphere but would steer clear of the home end ! Even  as a neutral , the drums , flags and flares made for a great atmosphere .
Was at a game on the same day as the Hillsborough disaster and the atmosphere around us changed when they realised we were English but apart from some verbal abuse as we left the stadium , it passed off ok .
Like Wilts , I took along some non-football fans in 2 Canadians and they loved it !!

[DaveDRFC]

I went to see Roma vs Bayern Munich in the Champions League a couple of years ago and it was fine, great atmosphere despite being 2/3 full at most and really cheap, cost me 17 euros for a ticket. The transport to the ground was a bit poor though, if you're staying in the centre you have to get the bus and it's a bit of a mission after the game.

[mushRTID]

Cheers chaps. Certainly something I will do, can't pass on the chance. I'm sure there is a section where tourists normally sit. Seen some you tube videos and the atmosphere looks unreal.

[River Don]

I went to see AC Milan v Roma at the Giuseppi Meazza in the 90s. Quite an experience, from disembarking the train to be met by squadrons of riot police, with machine guns and batons at the station. The Rome train pulled in and hundreds of 'fans' all dressed in a black uniform of jeans and bomber jackets poured off. Many were wearing military berets, lots of Roman salutes, you get the idea. I dodged into a cafe while they escorted this small army off to San Siro.

Anyway it turned out to be a decent game that Meeeelan won, 20 minutes before the end a full-scale riot developed in the Roma section, no holds barred between the Riot police and Ultras. So I made an early exit to get back to the station before the mayhem arrived.

Generally though your average Italian football fan was fine, but I've never seen anything as organised and violent as those Roma Ultras in this country.

[RedJ]

Roma's are notorious though, from what I've heard.

Never get caught in just ones or twos if you're going to an Italian game - try and stick with a larger group on the way to/from the match and you'll be fine, barring some trigger happy rozzer.

[River Don]

Actually Mush I'm going for a week in Italy soon, I hadn't considered it but I could easily visit Genoa.

Do you know a site where I can check the Italian fixtures? A trip to see Samporia or Genoa at home would be alright.

Edit: just checked Samps website, which helpfully has an English translation. Home to Juventus, last game off the season! Might be tricky getting tickets though. I've seen footage of Sampdoria at home, more drums than a Brazillian carnival and lots of flares. Got to try and see this!

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=Vv5t9eiHwKo

[BillyStubbsTears]

RD

Genoa is a beautiful city. I go there regularly for work. It's got a real edge to it though, being a big, bustling port. Keep your eyes open and your head screwed on and you should be fine.

A couple of the blokes I do business with are Genoa season ticket holders. They hate Sampdoria as being the flash harry types whereas Genoa are the working class club (so they tell me). I've recruited them as the Ligurian branch of the Rovers supporters club.

[River Don]

I always like the stadium they share, it has a very modernist look, perfectly angular and built in what looks like redbrick!

I thought something along those lines would have been perfect for the Rovers, while the saga of our new  stadium was in progress (the I'll believe it when I'm sat in it era).

[BillyStubbsTears]

Gregotti, the architect, was quite in vogue in the late 80s. That rectilinear style has been superseded by more organic curves, but I still love the Luigi Ferraris stadium.

[mushRTID]

Actually Mush I'm going for a week in Italy soon, I hadn't considered it but I could easily visit Genoa.

Do you know a site where I can check the Italian fixtures? A trip to see Samporia or Genoa at home would be alright.

Edit: just checked Samps website, which helpfully has an English translation. Home to Juventus, last game off the season! Might be tricky getting tickets though. I've seen footage of Sampdoria at home, more drums than a Brazillian carnival and lots of flares. Got to try and see this!

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=Vv5t9eiHwKo

Looks amazing RD. noticed a few fireworks in there too. We're these chaps at Bury last week?

[River Don]

Actually Mush I'm going for a week in Italy soon, I hadn't considered it but I could easily visit Genoa.

Do you know a site where I can check the Italian fixtures? A trip to see Samporia or Genoa at home would be alright.

Edit: just checked Samps website, which helpfully has an English translation. Home to Juventus, last game off the season! Might be tricky getting tickets though. I've seen footage of Sampdoria at home, more drums than a Brazillian carnival and lots of flares. Got to try and see this!

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=Vv5t9eiHwKo

Looks amazing RD. noticed a few fireworks in there too. We're these chaps at Bury last week?

Obviously this is what we should be working towards in the South Stand. We might have a problem with the flares and fireworks, but a few big flags on sticks would be a good move.

[Pintolager]

I'm off to Naples and Rome in April and I'm thinking of taking in Napoli v Cagliari if I can get a ticket. By reading some of these comments though, it does sound like I need to be careful. I know Naples isn't the safest city to start with, but don't want to get caught up in any footy related trouble. If Lazio get to the semis of the Europa league, they could be at home when I am there and while I'm not intending to go that match (unlikely I would get a ticket anyway) it could be a great atmosphere in the city that night.

Oh and I am away for the last 2 matches of the season, so do any of you guys know of a good   Irish bar in Rome where I can catch the scores?

[DaveDRFC]

There's an Irish Pub not far from the Termini station in Rome, where I watched a lot of tennis when I was there so I know they have sport on. I can't remember what it was called but it was very close to the Santa Maria Maggiore which is a pretty famous church.

I didn't feel threatened at all when I went to the football there, but I was with my wife so I don't know if this makes a difference rather than being in a group of blokes. It was also cheaper for her to get in, for some reason women's tickets are discounted over there.

Also, going to watch a match in the Stadio Olimpico will firmly dispel the myth that stadiums with a running track don't have an atmosphere. It's unreal! Another tip...get hold of one of the free newspapers being handed out before kick off. You probably won't be able to read it but I discovered all the locals use them to cover the seats because they look like they haven't been cleaned since the stadium was built!

EDIT - Just had a look on Google maps and the pub was called Druid's Rock, looks like there's a couple of them, website here - http://www.druidspubrome.com/

[River Don]

I'm off to Naples and Rome in April and I'm thinking of taking in Napoli v Cagliari if I can get a ticket. By reading some of these comments though, it does sound like I need to be careful. I know Naples isn't the safest city to start with, but don't want to get caught up in any footy related trouble. If Lazio get to the semis of the Europa league, they could be at home when I am there and while I'm not intending to go that match (unlikely I would get a ticket anyway) it could be a great atmosphere in the city that night.

Oh and I am away for the last 2 matches of the season, so do any of you guys know of a good   Irish bar in Rome where I can catch the scores?

Do you know what though, For all the bravado and intimidation of the Ultras I never felt threatened. Their main objective seemed to be having a scrap with the riot police.

I'm glad I wasn't wearing a Milan shirt mind.

[Pintolager]

There's an Irish Pub not far from the Termini station in Rome, where I watched a lot of tennis when I was there so I know they have sport on. I can't remember what it was called but it was very close to the Santa Maria Maggiore which is a pretty famous church.

I didn't feel threatened at all when I went to the football there, but I was with my wife so I don't know if this makes a difference rather than being in a group of blokes. It was also cheaper for her to get in, for some reason women's tickets are discounted over there.

Also, going to watch a match in the Stadio Olimpico will firmly dispel the myth that stadiums with a running track don't have an atmosphere. It's unreal! Another tip...get hold of one of the free newspapers being handed out before kick off. You probably won't be able to read it but I discovered all the locals use them to cover the seats because they look like they haven't been cleaned since the stadium was built!

EDIT - Just had a look on Google maps and the pub was called Druid's Rock, looks like there's a couple of them, website here - http://www.druidspubrome.com/

Thanks for the info Dave, will check out the pub and probably go in there.

[Pintolager]

I'm off to Naples and Rome in April and I'm thinking of taking in Napoli v Cagliari if I can get a ticket. By reading some of these comments though, it does sound like I need to be careful. I know Naples isn't the safest city to start with, but don't want to get caught up in any footy related trouble. If Lazio get to the semis of the Europa league, they could be at home when I am there and while I'm not intending to go that match (unlikely I would get a ticket anyway) it could be a great atmosphere in the city that night.

Oh and I am away for the last 2 matches of the season, so do any of you guys know of a good   Irish bar in Rome where I can catch the scores?

Do you know what though, For all the bravado and intimidation of the Ultras I never felt threatened. Their main objective seemed to be having a scrap with the riot police.

I'm glad I wasn't wearing a Milan shirt mind.

Cheers RD, re-reading posts it sounds like I should be fine in both Naples and Rome, but as always, just use a bit of common sense I suppose.

[ditch_drfc]

Milan v Bremen a few years ago. Amazing atmosphere. No trouble whatsoever. Although it was europa league...

[dumpweed]

I've been to a game in Bari before which was good.

Locals were fine as long as you don't go to over the top.

Typical behaviour by british tourists isnt recommended