Don't wear club shirts on Napoli trip, Manchester City fans are told

Napoli vs. Manchester City

UEFA Champions League - 1 year ago

• Fans urged to take extra care in Naples
• Fears of violence if Napoli are beaten

by Ian Malin 1 year ago

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Manchester City have taken the dramatic step of writing to supporters travelling to Italy for next week's Champions League match to urge them not to wear club shirts or scarves.

City take on Napoli, where visiting supporters have previously been subjected to knife attacks. In a letter to the fans who bought tickets for the match, club officials have also urged them to avoid no-go areas, including the railway station and the Old Centre of the city.

It is the first time City have issued such advice. The move comes after four Bayern Munich supporters were slashed with knives outside the Stadio San Paolo before a Champions League match last month. There were numerous reports of knife-wielding thugs on mopeds carrying out vicious assaults and two more German fans were stabbed in the city centre.

Last year three Liverpool fans were knifed, with two taken to hospital, when they visited Naples in the Europa League. Worried Manchester City officials drew up the advice after meeting officials from police at home and in Italy.

City's letter, signed by the operations manager Steve Sayer, says fans should "take care and use common sense" and "travel in groups where possible".

It says the club is "confident that there is a low risk of problems" but adds: "We would also advise against wearing club colours away from the game, particularly when taking public transport."

Tensions around the televised encounter are set to be high as defeat could see the Italians knocked out of the tournament. No alcohol will be served inside the ground and City supporters will be locked in after the final whistle for 45 minutes.

City said they had been working closely with the British consulate in Naples, Napoli and the Italian police to ensure the safety of their fans. The Premier League club are second in Group A, with seven points, behind Bayern Munich on 10 and ahead of Napoli with five.

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Page 1 of 3

Dioforever

(Real Madrid)

1 year ago

I heard this is a reason players dont like italian league no more. Some violent italian idiots ruin their countries name. sad sad italians

KeviUnited

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

Balotelli should hold a workshop to City fans on how to counter-attack with fireworks

+12

Eseleaka

(Inter Milan)

1 year ago

LOL.

Iamtrash123

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

man city made a loss of 194.9m in one year lol

Markodon

(NK Dinamo Zagreb)

1 year ago

Modern football is depressing

DavidUnited30

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

hahaaha the blue debt is rising!GGMU We Will Win the 20th title this season and be CHAMP20NS!we dont need alot of money to buy success like those arabic spenders

[account-removed]

1 year ago

We still possesses much more money than man u!

SamWiseDarlo

(Manchester City)

1 year ago

Erm, I'd be careful what you say about debt if I was you David.

Achiox

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

With money you can buy a clock, but not time. With money you can buy a bed, but not sleep. With money you can buy a book, but not knowledge.

With money... You can buy trophies. But you can't buy your respect.

SamWiseDarlo

(Manchester City)

1 year ago

Why would we care about your respect?

I can't believe the irony of United fans getting all philosophical because they've finally got less money than a rival team.

Oh and BTW the owners have pumped hundreds and hundreds of millions of pounds into our club so of course the loss after the first year is going to be huge. It's called an investment for a reason.

Palandiell

(Bayern München)

1 year ago

wow guys congratz, both of your great manchester clubs have become basically prostitutes to american/arabic investors, because you couldnt support your own club. isnt it great to know that its because of "your" dedication, love and spirit for these clubs, that they have such great financial power? wow you must feal so great!

SamWiseDarlo

(Manchester City)

1 year ago

We can't support our own clubs? United are one of the most widely supported clubs in the world and City have always had a fiercely loyal fan base. It's not as if either club was on the brink of falling apart before the investors came in.

And f**k yeah, I feel great. I've always loved my club and I'd be both fickle and stupid to stop supporting City now.

Palandiell

(Bayern München)

1 year ago

nope, but if you were fanowned, you wouldnt be able to achieve anything. you couldnt surive on your own

Iamtrash123

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

@sam you made a huge loss in 2009-2010 aswell. yes you expect a loss at first but that amount is ridiculous

SamWiseDarlo

(Manchester City)

1 year ago

Of course the loss is ridiculous, the amount that's been invested in all aspects of the club is ridiculous.

@Palandiell That's speculation, not fact.

NAOTA

(Chelsea)

1 year ago

No matter how you spin it but City is in first sooo yea.

Evoked87

(Arsenal)

1 year ago

Man City is a bank itself.

Achiox

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

City should pay for their fans' insurance costs.

It's not like they can't afford to anyways. Plus it could mean a bigger supporter turnout.

... Seriously though, it's a shame City fans have to be on the lookout at the Napoli match... It's a shame ANY fan has to be at risk for getting hurt at a ANY football match!

+16

GotIbra

(AC Milan)

1 year ago

Insecure Napoli fans. Trying to intimidate other fans so they don't come and support their team. Probably mentally ill as well obsessing about football in such a way they would stab a person over it. Can't police do a shake down before fans enter? Isn't this illegal? Threatening people with violence?

Markodon

(NK Dinamo Zagreb)

1 year ago

It's funny how many people associate Napoli players and administration with the hooligans from Naples who happen to be Napoli fans

14Hesus

(Barcelona)

1 year ago

It's all about safety mate. Don't wanna get shanked by a Napolian s**t-kicker!

Vishal024

(Arsenal)

1 year ago

HAH, "napolian" good one mate. It's "Neapolitan" lol.

Markodon

(NK Dinamo Zagreb)

1 year ago

Yeah, but it's not like they'll get shanked by Cavani or the president of Napoli.

Rowley87

(Chelsea)

1 year ago

Napoli have the same Colours as Man City. So If anyone asks about your light blue scarf, just be all "forza napoli!!"

+11

Reventon

(Barcelona)

1 year ago

Or just don't wear one at all? :D

14Hesus

(Barcelona)

1 year ago

Indeed!

Manutdfc1210

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

Pretty sure Rowley87 was making a joke here

DavidUnited30

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

That stupid because when they will speak to you in italian they will know that you english and supporting city

Westsideofhell

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

I wish Vallejo CA had a team in the champions league than all the opposing fans would get shot and robbed, welcome to Cali.

14Hesus

(Barcelona)

1 year ago

Haha!

Cruyff14

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

Oh man, good ol' Valley-hoe

Faceo

(Liverpool)

1 year ago

i hope napoli is telling their fans to clam down, and i guess it'd be best to not wear city jerseys or colors.

Achiox

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

Just like in Vancouver, BC after the 2011 Stanley Cup over here in Canada, it's usually not the fans who create the violence, but hooligans.

Mt1234

(Bolton Wanderers)

1 year ago

Actually, those were hockey fans that created the Vancouver Stanley Cup violence. It just spreads to eventually every other knucklehead as well.

Achiox

(Manchester United)

1 year ago

Did you hear about that on the news for a few months? And now still hear about it?

I have, and it's clear that most of the "fans" there weren't really fans, but people who were set to destroy and vandalize public property anyways.

I'm not trying to justify the fans, because there weren't thousands of hooligans in the streets, but all it takes is someone to provoke the crowd and take initiative to cause a mess of scene, wherever it is.