Rotterdam to help hunt Feyenoord rioters; UEFA powerless

By Taneli Savela on February 20, 2015 - 16:27
Feyenoord football fans riot in Rome (Screenshot YouTube/Polizia di Stato)
Feyenoord football fans riot in Rome on the eve of the February 19, 2015 UEFA Europa League match (Screenshot YouTube/Polizia di Stato). (Feyenoord football fans riot in Rome on the eve of the February 19, 2015 UEFA Europa League match (Screenshot YouTube/Polizia di Stato))

Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb has apologized on behalf of  and promises to track down the rioters in a letter to the Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino. European football association UEFA will not take action against Rotterdam Feyenoord fans following the disturbances in Rome.

Feyenoord fans are accused of rampaging through the center of Rome before the European League match between AS Roma and Feyenoord on both Wednesday and Thursday.

In his letter, Aboutaleb expresses his concerns about the brutish behaviour of Feyenoord fans in Rome. The Mayor wants to convince Marino that Rotterdam is fully cooperating in tracking down the fans who "abused your hospitality and inflicted damage in your beautiful city".

"We are more than prepared to cooperate fully in tracking down those who have committed these punishable offences. For this behaviour is totally unacceptable," the Mayor states in his letter.

Meanwhile, UEFA argues that only the Italian police can take action against the fans.

"We condemn all violent incidents that took place in the city, but it is not within the jurisdiction of UEFA to take action against because it did not happen during the match in the stadium," a spokesperson of European Football Union said to nu.nl on Friday.

Wednesday was already restless in the Italian capital. Several fans were arrested and three of them were sentenced to one and a half years in prison. Other fans were imposed a large fine.

In total, 33 Feyenoord fans were arrested on suspicion of rioting in Rome on Wednesday night.

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