An escalator in a Rome subway station broke on October 23, injuring up to 30 CSKA Moscow soccer fans who were heading to Rome’s Olimpico stadium to attend a Champions League match between the Russian team and AS Roma, according to a statement from the Russian team's fan club.
Italy's civil protection agency said one person suffered from "code-red" injuries and was hospitalized in critical condition with the possibility of having his foot amputated as a result of the accident at the Repubblica subway station in central Rome.
The agency confirmed that most of the injured people were Russian soccer fans.
Italy’s state-run RAI television broadcast a video that showed a packed escalator suddenly speed up, hurtling people down the stairs.
Italian media reported that some soccer fans were trapped between the metal plates at the bottom of the escalator.
La Repubblica reported that the escalator broke after singing and chanting fans started to jump up and down on it.
"We are here to understand what happened and to offer our support to the wounded and their families," Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi told journalists at the scene.
Several investigations have been opened, and the subway station near Rome's Termini train station was closed.
In a separate incident near the Olimpico stadium, a CSKA Moscow supporter suffered knife wounds in clashes with Roma fans.
Roma won the group stage match 3-0, tweeting after the match: "The thoughts of everyone at #ASRoma are with the supporters injured prior to tonight's game. The club will do everything it can to provide the right support and assistance to those in need."
