With heightened risks of violence and intimidation, England works to ensure the safety of travelling fans for the Italy clash at the Maradona Stadium.

England is in the process of coordinating special transport arrangements for its supporters travelling to Naples for their upcoming match against Italy, following growing security concerns. The fixture, set to take place at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, home of Napoli, has seen the Football Association (FA) take precautionary measures due to threats of violence.

Free coach services have been organised to take fans directly to the stadium, with further discussions taking place regarding transport options for those leaving the ground after the match. Supporters who do not have access to the provided coaches have been strongly advised by the FA to arrange private transport and avoid public transport due to safety risks.

The match, already surrounded by tension, has seen the cancellation of a planned friendly between the two national teams’ supporters, following an anonymous threatening email from a group of alleged ultras. The message warned that England fans would be targeted. This threat is being taken seriously, with the FA’s head of security liaising with both UK police and Italian authorities to ensure a coordinated response.

Additional concerns stem from past incidents, including violent clashes between away supporters and Napoli fans, which have further heightened fears of unrest. The match will take place at the fourth-largest stadium in Italy, though its capacity has been reduced to just under 49,000 for the game, which will likely result in long waits for supporters arriving at the venue.

While hardcore Napoli ultras are not expected to attend, security experts are concerned about the potential presence of troublemakers who may exploit the high-profile match to stir violence. The FA and local authorities are keen to ensure the safety of all involved and will continue to monitor the situation closely ahead of Thursday’s game.