In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Champions League match between AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, overnight clashes erupted between football fans in Milan, resulting in serious injuries for a PSG supporter.
Italian authorities reported that the victim sustained two stab wounds to the leg during the altercation and was subsequently rushed to Milan’s Policlinico hospital for medical treatment. Local Italian media identified the injured fan as a 34-year-old French national.
The confrontation transpired when approximately 50 AC Milan fans engaged in a clash with PSG supporters shortly after midnight, in the city’s vibrant canal district, a renowned nightlife hub. In an effort to restore order, the police resorted to baton charges, and two officers sustained injuries during the operation.
AC Milan, who were set to host PSG at San Siro, vehemently condemned the violence that marred the build-up to the match. The club conveyed their message on social media in multiple languages: “Football for us is passion, not hate. Sport is supposed to unite, not divide,” emphasizing the unifying power of sports.
This incident is not the first of its kind this season, as a Newcastle United supporter was also stabbed in Milan back in September, ahead of his team’s Champions League encounter with AC Milan. As of now, Milan finds themselves at the bottom of Group F, yet to secure a victory or score a goal in the current season’s competition.