Italian Hooligans Jailed over Rome Pub Raid on Tottenham Hotspur Fans

Two Italian football hooligans were given stiff prison sentences over an attack on Tottenham Hotspur fans in Rome.

A court in Rome sentenced Mauro Pinnelli, 27, and Francesco Ianari, 28, respectively to five years and six months and four years and six months for aggravated assault.

A dozen Spurs supporters were injured when a gang of Italian thugs stormed the Drunken Ship pub in the central Campo Di Fiori square where English fans were drinking on the eve of Tottenham's Europa League game against Lazio in November 2012.

Prosecutor Luca Tescaroli described the raid as a "planned action of guerrilla warfare".

Tescaroli said hooligans broke the pub's windows and threw smoke grenades and gas tinside before attacking customers with knives, clubs, iron bars, bottles and broken chair legs.

Ashley Mills, 25, was stabbed at the groin and spent a week in hospital.

Pinnelli and Ianari who support AS Roma inflicted 12 wounds on British supporters, Judge Giorgio Egidi said.

Another nine suspects are under investigation.

It was initially believed that Tottenham supporters had been the victim of a racist attack by Lazio's hardcore fans who have a history of far-right and racist behaviour. Spurs have a large Jewish fanbase, and the term "Yids" is regularly as a term of abuse by rival supporters.

It was later revealed that Roma fans organised the assault and called on their usually bitter rivals of Lazio for support.