A harrowing night for Seagulls supporters as they endure physical assaults and a heavy loss against Roma.

In a distressing turn of events, Brighton and Hove Albion fans were subjected to violence both before and during their team’s Europa League encounter with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. The evening, which saw the Seagulls suffer a 4-0 defeat, was marred by attacks on travelling supporters, with two fans reportedly stabbed and others pelted with projectiles during the match.

The incidents have prompted Brighton to lodge official complaints with UEFA and the Italian authorities, demanding immediate action. The club took to social media to express their concerns, stating, “We are aware of the bottles, coins, and lighters being thrown by home supporters into the away end. We have reported to UEFA and Italian Police and requested immediate action be taken.”

On the field, Brighton’s European ambitions were dashed as they were outclassed by a dominant Roma side, spearheaded by Romelu Lukaku. The on-loan Chelsea star contributed to the Seagulls’ first-ever European away defeat, with Brighton’s head coach Robert De Zerbi acknowledging the superiority of their opponents.

De Zerbi, reflecting on the loss, emphasized the importance of learning from the experience, stating, “Today is the day that I love my players the most. The players walk away with regrets. When you have regrets, the next time you know what to expect. We lost deservedly against a better team.”

The violent incidents outside the stadium have cast a shadow over the match, with two Brighton fans, aged 27 and 28, suffering stab wounds to their legs after an attack near the Colosseum. Brighton fan Joey Thorpe, who witnessed the assault, described the ordeal as “quite terrifying,” with attackers in balaclavas targeting the group.

Sussex Police football officer Darren Balkham has been in contact with the affected fans, confirming their well-being following the incident. The attack on Brighton supporters adds to a troubling history of violence involving Roma fans, with previous incidents involving Manchester United and Tottenham fans in the Italian capital.

As the dust settles on a night of football overshadowed by violence, the focus turns to ensuring the safety of travelling fans and addressing the issues that continue to plague the beautiful game