Udinese supporters carried out an ambush on a train that was transporting Venezia fans subsequent to their Serie A match on Saturday, instigating a widespread altercation that resulted in multiple injuries and culminated in eight arrests, as reported by Italian authorities on Sunday.
Approximately 50 supporters of Udinese, hailing from both Italy and Austria, many obscuring their identities and brandishing flares and smoke bombs, occupied the railway tracks at Basiliano, situated in proximity to the northeastern city of Udine, where the home team had secured a 3-2 victory.
They compelled a train, which was carrying supporters of Venezia, to halt, at which juncture several dozen fans aboard disembarked onto the platform, igniting what law enforcement characterized as a “massive brawl.”
The confrontations, which erupted in the early evening hours, persisted for only a brief duration before law enforcement personnel, supported by a police helicopter, rapidly intervened.
The majority of Udinese supporters vacated the scene, and the fans of Venezia subsequently reboarded the train, as indicated in a police statement.
Nevertheless, eight individuals were apprehended, comprising five Austrians, one Bosnian, and one Albanian.
Numerous fans sustained injuries, with two individuals being transported to a hospital in Udine via ambulance, while three police officers also incurred injuries.
The train incurred damage from projectiles hurled at the carriages. Passengers who had not participated in the match were relocated to an alternate train, while fans of Venezia were transferred to carriages that were undamaged.
The train departed at approximately 8:00 pm (1900 GMT), less than two hours subsequent to the commencement of the incident.
Both football clubs condemned the acts of violence, expressed concern for the well-being of the injured, and pledged to collaborate with law enforcement authorities. Udinese issued a warning stating that “those who mar the sport with violence are not genuine fans.”
The match had been designated as high risk due to prior confrontations when the teams faced each other in Venice on 30 October, during which Udinese supporters were assaulted in the vicinity of the train station upon their return home.
Law enforcement had escorted an estimated 1,200 fans of Venezia from their trains to the stadium on Saturday and back again. Officers were also positioned at Basiliano in anticipation of potential disturbances from Udinese supporters.
According to reports from the Italian media, Udinese hooligans received backing from ultras affiliated with the Austrian club Salzburg, with which they maintain connections.
