Rome blames United fans for trouble

By Deepa Babington

ROME (Reuters) - Rome's top public security official denied police used excessive force at Wednesday's Champions League match between AS Roma and Manchester United and blamed violent English fans for starting the trouble.

His comments come as European football's top governing body opened an investigation into the clashes that left 18 fans -- 14 English and four Italians -- injured during the evening.

United and their fans complained about what they said were "indiscriminate beatings" meted out by Italian police.

But Rome's Prefect Achille Serra, the government official responsible for public security, told Reuters the entire episode lasted only two minutes during which police were forced to intervene after English fans trampled past stewards.

"The attack was started by the English fans -- by a part of the English fans, we're not generalising -- a group of the violent ones," he said.

"The other day, Bayern Munich came to Milan. And nothing happened. And a few days ago, Lyon came and nothing happened. A while ago, Valencia came, and nothing happened. The Ukrainians came, and nothing happened," he said.

"Perhaps some English groups that sometimes create problems in Italy and sometimes create problems abroad should examine their own conscience."

Serra earlier told ANSA news agency three English fans had been held for disorderly conduct inside Rome's Olympic Stadium.