Hooded attackers targeted a Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) supporter, stabbing him just before the Champions League match against AC Milan.
Italian police confirmed the incident, which unfolded on Monday night in Milan.
The unnamed French man sustained “serious injuries from two stab wounds to the leg” and was promptly transported to a hospital, according to a statement released by the authorities.
Although the victim’s identity remains undisclosed, reports from the Corriere della Sera newspaper indicate that he is 34 years old and is currently in stable condition, with his life not in immediate danger.
Eyewitnesses on the scene informed the police that the confrontation took place between approximately 50 Milan fans and French supporters in the Navigli area of the northern Italian city.
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Social media images shared by Italian news outlets depict a group of men gathered along a canal, a popular area known for its cafes, bars, and vibrant nightlife.
In the footage, as flares illuminate the surroundings, the situation escalates abruptly, with one group of men fleeing from another group, some of whom are concealing their identities with hoods and brandishing objects resembling batons.
This incident follows another violent episode less than two months ago when a Newcastle United supporter was stabbed in the same area of Milan before a Champions League match against the city’s football club.
Tonight, seven-time European champions Milan are set to host PSG, with the French club currently leading Group F by a margin of two points. PSG had previously defeated Milan with a decisive 3-0 victory at the Parc des Princes just a fortnight ago.
Adding to the already intense atmosphere at the San Siro, the return of Italy’s star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who left Milan for PSG as a free agent in the summer of 2021, is expected to further fuel emotions on the field.
The Champions League match, scheduled for Tuesday, carries significant implications for both teams’ chances of advancing to the knockout stages.
The four teams in the group are separated by just four points, with Milan currently occupying the bottom spot with only two points, having failed to score a single goal in their first three matches of the tournament.