Two Brighton fans have been stabbed in the Italian capital ahead of the side’s Europa League match against Roma, according to local media.
Two English men, in their late 20s, were attacked shortly after midnight in the Monti neighbourhood by a group of between six and seven people wearing masks, police in Rome have said.
The force said the attack took place in Via Cavour near the Colosseum.
Officers have not confirmed the men are in the city to watch tonight’s Europa League tie, but local media reports suggest the victims are Brighton fans who flew to Rome for the fixture.
The men suffered stab wounds before their wallets and documents were stolen, police have said.
Officers based at the Viminale police station said they were called to the scene by a restaurant waiter who the victims had approached and asked for help after being stabbed.
The men are aged between 26 and 27, with one born in 1996 and the other in 1997, police have said.
The older fan suffered three stab wounds to one of his legs and is being treated at the San Giovanni hospital.
The younger fan received two stab wounds and is being treated at the Umberto I hospital.
Police have not specified where the younger fan suffered his injuries but local reports suggest he was also stabbed in one of his legs.
Officers have said they are looking for the attackers but they have not yet been identified.
Brighton play Roma in the first leg of the tournament’s round of 16 match at Rome’s Olympic stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Police have said 100 officers will be deployed at the match.
