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Italian ambassador promises Brit fans' rights
LONDON (AP) -- Responding to concerns that law-abiding fans could be treated like "animals," Italy's ambassador promised today that Italian police will respect the civil rights of England supporters going to Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Rome.Ambassador Paolo Galli gave the assurances during a 45-minute meeting in London with David Mellor, head of the British government's soccer task force.
Mellor has expressed worry that England fans as a whole will be singled out for heavy-handed treatment by Italian police seeking to crack down on hooligans.
"The ambassador has given some very helpful assurances," Mellor said. "First, the chief of police in Rome has assured the ambassador that the civil rights of the visiting supporters will be respected, and oppressive policing will not be a feature."
"He assured me nothing will be done to the English fans that will not also be done to Italian fans," Mellor said. "There will be consistency of treatment between the fans of the two nationalities concerned."
As many as 10,000 England fans are heading to Rome for the game, which will decide which country qualifies automatically for next year's World Cup in France.
British police said Monday that up to 700 known hooligans -- including 60-70 "hard-core" trouble makers -- were expected to make the trip to Rome.
Mellor said only a "small minority" of fans were capable of causing disorder.
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