When in Rome, be careful: 1,500 police will be on the streets for arrival of Celtic

Italian police are set to mount a major security operation when Celtic play Lazio on Thursday amid fears of violent clashes between fans.

Around 1,500 police officers will be on duty in and around Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, in a bid to prevent trouble.

The task of running the massive police operation has been handed over to the elite Divisione Investigazioni Generali e Operazioni Speciali, which normally investigates sensitive cases such as terrorism and organised crime.

An Italian police insider said: “Security will be very tight and extra officers will be on the streets.”

Senior officers are already assessing the threats they face and examining how to ensure the game passes peacefully.

Celtic beat Lazio 2-1 when the sides met for a Europa League group stage match at Parkhead two weeks ago. The game was marred by the behaviour of some fans from both clubs. The day before the game, Italian fans marched through Glasgow giving fascist salutes.

Then a section of Celtic’s Green Brigade inside Celtic Park responded with a giant banner depicting Italian fascist Benito Mussolini’s body being hung upside down after he was shot by partisans at the end of the Second World War, beside the message: “Follow your leader.”

That prompted Mussolini’s granddaughter to demand Celtic fans be prosecuted. Both teams were sanctioned by governing body Uefa for their fans’ behaviour.

Some 9,000 Celtic fans are expected to travel to Rome to watch the match, either at the stadium or in nearby bars. They will be asked to assemble pre-match in the Piazzale Flaminio area before those with tickets will be escorted to the stadium.

There will be a city-wide ban on the sale of drinks in glass bottles from 7pm to dawn, from Tuesday to Thursday.

Police said Celtic fans should avoid wandering in the streets of the city centre wearing their team colours and, above all, should not approach the Campo de Fiori area, historically a place of violent clashes.

Many Lazio fans condemned their fellow supporters’ behaviour, but there are fears notorious Ultra gangs will want to take revenge on Celtic supporters. The Lazio Ultras are infamous for their violence. They rose up in the 1970s and became notorious for displaying warped fascist symbols and doling out racist and anti-Semitic abuse against opposition players and fans.

Yesterday, the Ultras promised to give Celtic fans “a headache” with 90 minutes of singing.

Their La Voce Della Nord (Voice of the North) fans group stated: “Let’s get them out of the stadium with a headache. Let’s make the world feel and see who the Lazio people are. We scream our anger and take the victory! We will never bow our heads! Lazio is strong and Lazio are invincible!”

In August, the Ultras’ leader was shot dead in an apparent assassination in Rome.

Fabrizio Piscitelli, nicknamed Diabolik, was shot in the head in a park in broad daylight, local media said. Piscitelli was linked to drug trafficking and reports suggested his killing may have been a revenge attack carried out by rivals.

Banners and flags will be checked before fans enter the stadium, and any with political statements or mentions of other clubs will be banned.

Meanwhile, Rome’s Pontifical Scots College will hold a mass for fans on Thursday morning. Rector Father Dan Fitzpatrick said: “The Scottish Catholic community has been present in Rome since the 17th Century and for this reason Thursday will be a party for them that will go beyond football.”