Ander Herrera fumes at Athletic Club fans who could have ‘killed’ a child against Roma | OneFootball

Athletic Club apologised and announced ‘zero tolerance’ after a ‘small group’ of away fans lit flares and threw them into the Roma crowd at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday. ‘What if you kill a child? It has no explanation,’ said Ander Herrera.

Athletic Club fans caused trouble at the Stadio Olimpico last night, prompting the club and one of their most experienced players, Ander Herrera, to condemn their behaviour and apologise.

“Athletic Club wishes to express its strongest condemnation of the unacceptable acts committed by a minority of people who travelled to the Europa League match against AS Roma and were located in the visiting stands,” the La Liga side said in an official statement.

“During the match, this small group lit flares and threw some of them into the home crowd, violating safety regulations and tarnishing the image of our fans, known for their exemplary behaviour and unconditional support for the team in any circumstance.”

Ander Herrera fumes at Athletic Club fans who could have ‘killed’ a child against Roma

Spain international Herrera didn’t hold back either and expressed his discontent in an interview with Cadena Cope

“We have a strange feeling because we played a good game, a positive point but everything is clouded by what we have all seen,” said the 35-year-old, as quoted by Football Espana.

“I understand that in a moment of heat, you bring out the worst in yourself in the form of an insult, but it doesn’t enter my mind throw a flare that can kill a person. It makes you go cold, because it has no explanation.

“The flares used well, when celebrating La Gabarra, give a beautiful colour but in the hands of a person who throws it at the head, you have to cut it out. A person who throws a flare and you know it can hit someone in the head and you can kill them, what if you kill a child? Or any person? It has no explanation.”

Athletic eventually held Roma to a 1-1 draw last night. Artem Dovbyk scored in the third consecutive match for the Giallorossi, but the Basques equalised with Aitor Paredes at minute 85.

It was Ivan Juric’s first European game as the ex-Croatia international suddenly took over from Daniele De Rossi last week. Roma have six points in five Serie A games and host Venezia in the next league match on Sunday.