Brighton fans pelted with bottles and coins after supporters stabbed in Rome
Brighton fans were once again targeted by Roma supporters during the Seagulls' 4-0 humbling at the Stadio Olimpico.
Two travelling fans were stabbed prior to the match in the Italian capital, and supporters in the visiting section were pelted with objects during the game.
Brighton have vowed to report the incidents to UEFA after what has been a nightmare trip for the south coast club.
The Seagulls tweeted: "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 pitch, Brighton's Europa League bid lay in Roman ruins after they were flattened by Romelu Lukaku in their first ever European away defeat.
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And after a miserable return to his homeland, head coach Robert De Zerbi claimed the humbling loss must be a lesson for his club and owner Tony Bloom.
The on-loan Chelsea star, Paulo Dybala and two Italy internationals scored as the Serie A side outclassed struggling Albion.
De Zerbi’s side have now lost three games in a week without scoring a goal to go out of the FA Cup and slide to ninth in the Premier League.
And their likely elimination from the Europa League in the second leg back at the Amex Stadium on Thursday will leave little to play for in the rest of the season.
Lukaku netted his 27th Europa League goal - the third best ever - and his seventh in the competition this season to show the value of top-class strikers.
Injury-hit Brighton were without record signing Joao Pedro and fellow striker Kaoru Mitoma while ruthless Roma scored four goals with seven shots on target.
Lukaku ran riot as Roma humbled Brighton (Anadolu via Getty Images)De Zerbi and Roma boss Daniele De Rossi are close friends but there was no room for sentiment during a brutal 90-minute lesson from a club which have reached European finals in the last two seasons.
“I told De Rossi that the only positive of this game is that I lost against a friend,” said the Brighton boss. "The truth is we lost against a stronger team than us. Roma players are used to playing these matches, that's why they are stronger. It was not the second goal that made the difference. The truth is that we are not used to playing these games at this level.
"This is a lesson to learn for the president to improve the team. And for myself improve from January to March. And for the players. 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.”
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The defeat came after two Brighton fans were subjected to a “quite terrifying” knife attack pre-match. The supporters - aged 27 and 28 - were stabbed in their legs and robbed after leaving a bar near the Colosseum at around midnight on Wednesday. Both men were treated in hospital and later released.
Brighton fan Joey Thorpe, who was among the group attacked, told the Brighton Argus: “We were not chanting or anything. We were jumped from behind by about six guys in balaclavas, all dressed in black.
"They were kicking me in the head, my ribs, in the arms, legs – literally everywhere.
“It all happened very quickly, I didn’t even see it coming. First thing I remember was being on the floor, trying to cover up whilst they are kicking and punching me.
"They caught my two friends up the street and stabbed them. One of my mates had his wallet and passport taken away. It’s pretty dreadful.”
Sussex Police football officer Darren Balkham tweeted: "We are aware of the incident reported in Italian media last night. Have spoken to both Brighton fans who are ok.”
Seagulls boss De Zerbi said: "The news about the two fans is very sad news, first of all because they are my fans. It is a special pain for me because it is in my country. Very painful."
Ten Manchester United fans were hospitalised with stab wounds after violence during a Champions League tie against Roma in 2007 while a Tottenham fan was stabbed before a Europa League match against Lazio in 2012.
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