Uefa will not discipline Feyenoord over Rome riots: ANP

European football body Uefa will not take any action against Rotterdam football club Feyenoord following this week’s riots in Rome by supporters, news agency ANP said on Friday.

The spokesman told ANP Uefa can only intervene when problems arise in stadiums. ‘We condemn what has happened but Uefa can do nothing about it,’ ANP quoted the spokesman as saying.

Feyenoord was playing AS Roma in the round of 32 of the Europa League on Thursday night. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and the return leg takes place in Rotterdam next week.

Italian newspapers have condemned the rioting by Feyenoord fans as ‘barbaric’ and accused them of damaging a listed fountain which had only just been restored. In total, 53 supporters were arrested in two nights of trouble.

Rotterdam’s mayor Achmed Aboutaleb has written to his Roman counterpart Iganzio Marino pledging to do what he can to help bring the perpetrators to justice.

‘This behaviour is completely unacceptable,’ he is quoted as saying. The hooligans have ‘abused your hospitality and damaged your beautiful city,’ he said.

Initial estimates put the damage caused by the riots at at least €3m.