Rome derby clashes likened to 'urban warfare' with 24 police officers injured

ROME (AP) — The toll from clashes between violent fans and police at the weekend's Rome derby includes 24 law enforcement officers injured, seven arrests and at least 40,000 euros ($45,000) in destroyed garbage dumpsters.

Officials in the capital were still trying to sum up the damages after fans on Sunday attacked police in riot gear in a heavily populated area where people had been gathering ahead of the Serie A game between Lazio and Roma.

“I am disgusted,” said Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. “It’s unacceptable that hooligans transform a day of sport into a scene of urban warfare.”

Some 2,000 police officers were stationed at various flashpoints around the Stadio Olimpico and swept into action when Lazio’s hard-core “ultra” fans attempted to push through a barred-off area.

Fans reacted to the intervention by launching fireworks and other objects at the police officers. Police then responded with tear gas and water cannons.

Serie A league judge Gerardo Mastrandrea on Tuesday announced that he would wait for a more comprehensive report about the clashes before deciding on any punishment for the clubs. But he did order fines of 6,000 euros ($6,800) for Roma and 4,000 euros ($4,500) for Lazio because supporters of the clubs threw flares toward the field during the game. Seven flares were reported from the Roma end and four from the Lazio end.

The derby was restored to an 8:45 p.m. kickoff this season after six years of earlier start times in order to avoid violence. Now next year’s games will likely start earlier again.

Lazio and Roma both expressed solidarity with the injured police officers and denounced the violence.

The game ended 1-1.

The Rome derby has been plagued by violence for years.

In 2004, the derby was suspended due to a false rumor that police had killed a boy outside the stadium.

In January, a car went up in flames outside the stadium before this season's first derby.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Lazio fans clash with Italian Policemen in riot gear outside the olympic stadium prior to the start of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma in Rome, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans clash with Italian Policemen in riot gear outside the olympic stadium prior to the start of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma in Rome, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans clash with Italian Policemen in riot gear outside the olympic stadium prior to the start of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma in Rome, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans clash with Italian Policemen in riot gear outside the olympic stadium prior to the start of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma in Rome, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans clash with Italian Policemen in riot gears outside the olympic stadium prior to the start of the Italian soccer match between Lazio and Roma in Rome, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with police ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with police ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with police ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with police ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with police ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with Police ahead of the Italian Series A soccer match between Lazio and Roma outside Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with police ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with police ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Lazio fans riot with police ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talked to his team about being prepared to bleed as New England entered its first playoff game since the 2021 season.

Then, shortly after Milton Williams sacked the Chargers' Justin Herbert on Sunday night to secure the Patriots' first playoff victory in seven years, Williams celebrated with a head-butt of Vrabel.

It knocked the first-year coach backward and bloodied his lip.

“The big dogs come out in January. I think Milt took that to heart,” Vrabel said. “He came over and got me pretty good. But that’s what happens.”

Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter, and New England's defense roughed up Herbert as the Patriots beat Los Angeles 16-3 in an AFC wild-card playoff game.

Andy Borregales kicked three field goals for the Patriots (15-3), who hadn't won in the postseason since their Super Bowl victory to cap the 2018 season. They’ll host the winner of Monday night’s game between Pittsburgh and Houston in the divisional round.

In his playoff debut, Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and ran for a team-high 66 yards.

“We made plays when we had to do it,” Maye said.

He also threw an interception and lost a fumble, but the Chargers (11-7) couldn't capitalize on those turnovers.

New England held Los Angeles to 207 yards of offense and sacked Herbert six times, with one of those resulting in a lost fumble that set up the Patriots' TD.

“It's on us, what we do. I've been saying that all season,” Williams said. “We can control the game. If we do what we need to do up front, we're going to win.”

This is the second straight season in which the Chargers have lost in the wild-card round. Herbert finished 19 of 31 for 159 yards and was his team's leading rusher with 57 yards as he fell to 0-3 in the playoffs.

Herbert was just over a month removed from surgery to repair a broken bone in his nonthrowing hand.

“There was no issue,” Herbert said. “I just have to do a better job holding on to the ball.”

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said his quarterback wasn't 100 percent.

“He’s a warrior. He just gives it everything he has, all the time,” Harbaugh said, acknowledging that Herbert was limited by his hand injury. “It’s an issue, but he doesn’t flinch, like a warrior would.”

The last time the Chargers failed to score a TD in the playoffs was their 21-12 AFC championship game loss to the Patriots during the 2007 season.

The Patriots drove into the red zone on their first possession of the third quarter, but the drive ended when Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh and De'Shawn Hand recovered for the Chargers.

After Los Angeles punted, Maye connected on a pass to Kayshon Boutte that went for 42 yards to set the Patriots up on the Chargers 27. But New England settled for a 39-yard field goal that stretched their lead to 9-3.

Early in the fourth quarter, Maye used a 16-yard pass to Boutte and a 13-yard burst by Rhamondre Stevenson to set up his precise 28-yard TD toss to Henry that put the Patriots in front 16-3.

The Chargers picked up back-to-back first downs to open their ensuing drive. But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.

Los Angeles had one final possession, but it ended with Herbert getting sacked by Williams on fourth down.

“It’s playoff football. It’s going to get ugly. It’s going to get nasty. But you’ve got to keep going,” Williams said.

The opening quarter had lots of action, but it took until early in the second quarter for the Patriots to end a scoreless stalemate.

With New England pinned inside its own 10 after a Chargers punt, Maye had a pass intended for Austin Hooper tipped by Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley.

Los Angeles started with the ball on the Patriots 10 but was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a pass to Keenan Allen.

The Patriots took over and got some breathing room via a 48-yard catch-and-run by Stevenson.

Thirteen plays and a fourth-down conversion later, the drive ended with Borregales' 23-yard field goal.

Patriots: CB Carlton Davis left in the first half with a toe injury but returned. ... CB Christian Gonzalez left in the second half with a head injury.

Chargers: End of season.

Patriots: Host either Houston or Pittsburgh next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss celebrates after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, left, catches a pass next to Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) and carries it in for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97), linebacker Christian Elliss (53) and linebacker Robert Spillane (14) celebrate Williams' sack of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, left, avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New England Patriots, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) celebrates a tackle in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings, rear, in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)