Italian capital under tight security ahead of Roma-Liverpool semi-final

ROME, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Rome was under tight security as British soccer fans converged on the Italian capital Wednesday ahead of the Roma-Liverpool Champions League semi-final match at the Olimpico stadium.

City authorities are on the lookout for potential trouble as they try to prevent Liverpool fans crossing paths with Roma supporters after violence broke out between the two sides in the first leg of the match at Liverpool's Anfield Stadium last week, when Roma hooligans attacked Liverpool supporter Sean Cox and left him in a coma.

The team has taken pains to distance itself from the violence. On Tuesday, Roma players showed their support for Cox by wearing special shirts emblazoned with the message "Forza Sean" (Go Sean) during their final training session ahead of Wednesday's match.

About 1,000 agents, some in plain clothes, have been deployed to monitor the 5,000 Liverpool fans expected to show up in the Eternal City, according to public broadcaster RAI.

Also monitoring the situation are British agents from Scotland Yard, as British authorities have flagged 40-50 hooligans, or potentially violent soccer fans, to their Italian counterparts, RAI said.

Several charter flights loaded with fans from Britain have landed at Rome's two airports, where Liverpool supporters are being met by police and loaded onto buses to take them into the city, ANSA news agency reported.

Authorities have set up a gathering area in the city's central Villa Borghese park, where fans will be bused to the Olimpico in the afternoon.

Police surveillance has also been set up around key monuments to prevent hooligans from defacing them, according to local media.

A 36-hour ban on the street sale of alcohol and of alcohol in glass bottles went into effect Monday night, in an effort to curb public drunkenness and potentially dangerous situations with bottles being used as weapons.

Liverpool beat Roma 5-2 in the first leg last week, so the home team must win 3-0 to make it to the Champions League final. Enditem