Controversy over racist
behaviour by fans raged Friday, one day after AS Roma qualified
for the next round in the Europa League by beating Dutch side
Feyenoord 2-1 in a tense match.
Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA, the world governing body for
soccer, took to Twitter to denounce the "embarrassing scenes of
violence and racism last night," at the match in the Dutch city
of Rotterdam.
The match was suspended twice because of the bad behaviour
of fans.
Among other incidents, Feyenoord fans threw a giant
inflatable banana at AS Roma player Gervinho who is from the
Ivory Coast.
Blatter called for greater efforts "to combat
discrimination and racism" with soccer.
Violence was expected by police, including officers from
Rome who travelled with fans to Rotterdam.
Just one week earlier, Feyenoord ultra supporters had
created two major disturbances in Rome, including vandalism of a
historic fountain at the foot of the tourist-flooded Spanish
Steps.
Several police officers were injured during that
mid-afternoon riot that occurred shortly before Feyenoord played
AS Roma to a draw.
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