Soccer: AS Roma wins 2-1 over Feyernoord

(ANSA) - Rome, February 27 - 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.