Shocking moment Rangers and ITALIAN hooligans fight with weapons and throw chairs & metal barriers ahead of Benfica game
THIS is the shocking moment Rangers yobs battled with hooligans from Italian outfit Atalanta when they attacked them in a Lisbon hotel ahead of tonight’s clash with Benfica.
A group of ultras from the Bergamo-based Serie A side were also in town to watch their team play out a 1-1 first leg draw against Sporting Lisbon.
And they clearly had plans on some organised violence as they swooped on a group of Gers fans who were in the Eden Aparthotel in the city.
Video widely shared on various social media accounts this morning shows more than 100 ultras involved in the violence.
It shows Italian hooligans – some of them wielding belts and other items as weapons – congregating in the doorway as missiles are fired back and forward between the two groups.
The Rangers fans – with some supporters clad in strips – then break out of the hotel to chase their rivals up the square as sporadic running battles continue.
Footage shows the yobs throwing a heavy chair back and forward at each other while others pick up huge metal barriers and lob them at their rival thugs.
The Rangers fans then charge at the Italians who can be seen running away across the square and round a corner.
Police sirens can be heard as the authorities attempted to get to grips with the shocking violence.
Meanwhile, Philippe Clement played down suggestions that Europe wasn’t important compared to the club’s quest to reclaim the Premiership title from Celtic.
The Belgian, who is also dealing with a major injury crisis, told reporters: “There were some people on the board that told me before our European game (against Real Betis) that it was more important to win the League Cup.
“I told them I never do work that way.
“I want players who are hungry for every occasion and want to do it every game.
“It doesn’t work that way. It’s not like a menu in a restaurant that you pick up.
“It’s a busy schedule, yes that’s true, but I’ve been working hard with all the players and the staff to get everyone ready.
“It’s about the players themselves too, to show that they’re ready for this kind of competition.
“I want players hungry to win every occasion, you don’t create a winning culture if you look to the next game.
“We are going to go full for this game, then full again at the weekend.
“We will go like this to the end of the season.”
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