Football
9y

Roma chief hopes fans don't cause trouble before Feyenoord clash

Roma president James Pallotta has called on his club's supporters to show respect for Rotterdam when they visit the Dutch city on Thursday.

The Serie A side head to the Netherlands to play Feyenoord in the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie -- a week after away fans ran rampage in the Italian capital.

Feyenoord supporters vandalised monuments and left some of Rome's most popular tourist areas damaged ahead of the 1-1 first-leg draw.

There are fears Roma fans may attempt to get their own back in Rotterdam on Thursday, but Pallotta hopes they will instead set an example as to how to conduct yourself abroad.

"It was disgusting and embarrassing [what the Feyenoord fans did]," Pallotta is quoted as saying by Il Corriere dello Sport. "I hope that the Roma fans will not do the same things. We need to show how civilised we are. To go to Rotterdam for vendetta is stupid.

"What their fans did for a game of football is ridiculous. They must pay for the damages. They were uncivilised. Not all of them, but a group who damaged ancient monuments of Rome. They acted like imbeciles. Our fans are better, though, so I'm not concerned."

Those Roma fans have also been praised for the patience they have shown in the side, and in coach Rudi Garcia in particular, during a period of disappointing results -- the Giallorossi have drawn eight of their last 11 games, falling nine points behind Serie A leaders Juventus in the process.

"Have we lost games? No, so what's the problem?" Pallotta said. "The problem only exists among the media. They are the ones creating it. The fans don't tell me such stupid things. There may be a few supporters who see a problem, but they are not even true fans.

"Most people don't think like that. I've met 30 of them here in Milan and they've told me that everything's fine. The team are trying all they can, it's just one of those moments. We're still second in the table. Our aim is to win the title every year, but I can't see any problem. Some you win, some you don't.

"Why is Garcia not the right man? Just think that last year Rudi was seen as a God and now he's suddenly become the devil? I don't think it's like that, it's just a period in which there have been lots of draws, but we'll get back to winning ways."

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