Hard-core Lazio fans directed anti-semitic chants at Tottenham Hotspur supporters during the Europa League match between the two squads at Rome's Olympic Stadium on 22 November.

A section of the Lazio "ultra" fans chanted "Juden Tottenham, Juden Tottenham" and displayed a "Free Palestine" banner aimed at fans of the London team.

The incident follows the attack on Tottenham Hotspur fans at the Drunken Ship pub in Campo de' Fiori the previous night, in which seven Spurs fans were hospitalised and one left in a critical condition after being attacked by a mob of masked assailants who were armed with clubs, knives and other weapons.

Anti-semitism has been cited as one of the possible motives behind the attack during which the assailants shouted "Jews" according to some eye-witness reports.

Although Lazio's extreme right-wing "ultras" were initially blamed for the attack, two supporters of AS Roma, Lazio's team rivals in Rome, were also arrested on 22 November. Some suggest that the Spurs fans could have "taken the place" of supporters of fellow London team West Ham, an old enemy of AS Roma.

Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that supporters of several football teams were involved in the organised attack.