Streets of Naples on fire as football fans clash with police before Champions League match

The streets of Naples were alight following clashes between Eintracht Frankfurt fans and Italian police ahead of the Champions League fixture.

Footage shared online depicts scary scenes with police cars on fire and damage across the city.

Reuters reports via Sydney Morning Herald, that Italian authorities had banned fans from the German city from attending the stadium in Naples amid concerns of violence.

However, a group of Frankfurt supporters made the away trip to Italy which resulted in clashes with police.

Shocking scenes currently ongoing in Naples:

guerrilla in downtown, a squad of 20 policemen risking their life, as a Eintracht and Atalanta hooligans allied are setting on fire the city.

Naples is currently hostage of 300 hooligans pic.twitter.com/yFqgQBmEoc

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) March 15, 2023

Car windows were shattered as the German fans hurled chairs and other objects as bystanders attempted to take shelter in bars and restaurants.

Vehicles were set on fire as flares were thrown across the city.

Footage shows riot police retreating as hundreds of masked and hooded fans proceeded on them, throwing any objects they could find.

The report says Napoli fans threw stones and bottles at buses carrying the Eintracht supporters.

UCL.14.03.2023
Napoli attacks buses carrying Eintracht Frankfurt fans while they were escorted to a hotel in Naples. The incident happened the night before the game.

Officially, fans from Frankfurt are banned from this match (safety reasons) pic.twitter.com/hjw2rZ99Or

— HooligansTV (@HooligansTV_eu) March 15, 2023

It is believed some 600 supporters travelled to Germany despite being banned from the stadium.

Wide World of Sports reports that the number was boosted by ‘Atlanta ultras’ who joined in on the chaos due to their bitter rivalry with Napoli.

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini took to Instagram to condemn the violence while giving his ‘full support’ to the police on the ground.

He wrote: “These are not fans, they are criminals, thugs. I wonder if they would make the same mess in Germany?”

The first leg of the Champions League encounter saw fans of both teams clash prior to the game.

Clashes erupt at the square in Naples as Napoli's ultras seem to have attempted to reach the area where Eintracht Frankfurt's supporters are located. Police are at the scene. pic.twitter.com/GTyhJOPoxn

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) March 15, 2023

Police labelled the game as high risk, with Italy informing Eintracht last week that they would not be allowing the fans into their stadium.

The club labelled the decision ‘an unacceptable interference’.

On the pitch, Napoli defeated their German counterparts 3-0 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Victor Osimhen grabbed a brace and Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty to give the Italian side the 5-0 win on aggregate.

They join AC Milan and Inter Milan as Italian teams to progress to the next stage - the first time three Italian teams have made the final eight since 2006.