Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb has confirmed several fans were hospitalised after being attacked by Roma fans ahead of tonight’s Uefa Cup tie in Italy.

It is understood three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed in the incident.

The Teessiders lead Roma 1-0 heading into the second leg of their last-16 match as they look to secure a quarter-final place.

And Lamb told BBC Radio there had been a violent incident last night.

"There was an incident in one of the bars in a square in Rome. Some Boro fans were drinking in a bar and the bar was attacked by some Roma fans," he said. "A number of Boro fans have been injured - a small number - and taken to hospital and received medical treatment.

"As far as I’m aware everybody is okay now, although one was retained in hospital but is in a stable condition."