Police arrest four as Roma fans protest at team's camp - 19/02/2011

Source : M&C website

Police have arrested four persons after clashes with fans of Serie A side Roma who protested outside the training facilities of Trigoria, Italian media reported Saturday.

Officers intervened when about 200 fans gathered at the Fulvio Bernardini camp, chanting against the team and detonating firecrackers and smoke bombs.

A firecracker reportedly injured a policeman in his leg.

Police remained at the camp to escort the team as they leave later Saturday for an away league game at Genoa.

The city derby between Roma's youth team and Lazio, which was scheduled Saturday in Trigoria, will be played behind closed doors for security reasons.

Roma have come under criticism after suffering three defats in their latest outings - two in the Serie A being followed Wednesday by a 3-2 home crash to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Beside the poor results, there has been tension in recent months at the club, with a financial crisis limiting planning and operations on the transfer market.

A group of US investors appear set to take over from the Sensi family.

The Sensi's have controlled the club since 1993 through their oil company Italpetroli. Increasing financial problems, however, have forced them to sell most of their assets, including the Rome club.