Graphic: The no-go zones in Rome

In Nyon, they can afford to take a different view. Uefa’s bigwigs will be sitting in their Swiss headquarters looking forward with glee to next week and the Champions League final in Rome. They will expect to experience the phrase many people associate with the Eternal City: la dolce vita.

There will be no need for football’s aristocracy to pay heed to yesterday’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office warnings about the dangers of the Italian capital. It will be different for the supporters of Manchester United, in particular, and Barcelona. If they are not careful and neglect to listen to the advice, they will become painfully familiar with another local term: puncicate.

This is a word used by Rome’s “Ultras” — Roma and Lazio — to elevate their practice of stabbing opposing supporters in the buttocks to a cultural symbol. It evokes duels in the Renaissance period and is a way of making the attack from behind something more than the work of a cowardly sneak. In its essence, it means being stabbed in the back. Well, Uefa has made millions in profit doing this to fans, so why should it care now?

It was 25 years ago that the culture of stabbing in Rome came to the attention of British fans. Liverpool beat Roma on penalties in a European Cup final in the same Stadio Olimpico that United will play at next week. The response of the home supporters was to run wild. Scores of Liverpool fans were stabbed and slashed in 1984 but the kneejerk reaction in Britain was to blame “the English disease” for the trouble. Those who were there told a different story. No one listened.

However, the past decade has forced people to take notice of the risks supporters take if they attend an away match against Roma. Liverpool’s two games against the club in 2001 left more than 20 visiting fans in hospital; United have been involved in a number of incidents in the Italian capital, the worst in 2007 when 11 supporters were stabbed; and Middlesbrough and Arsenal supporters have been slashed in the past three years.

Gianni Alemanno, the Mayor of Rome, may respond to critics of his city by pointing out that there is more knife crime in London but he fails to recognise that his is the only city in Europe where visiting football supporters are routinely and specifically targeted with blades.

Some of the city’s most significant figures appear to have turned a blind eye to the doctrine of puncicate. Achille Serra, the former head of police, is a Roma fan — he twice travelled to Old Trafford on the team plane. He was renowned for going easy on the Ultras — he would allow groups to gather before and after games in places police had designated no-go areas — before he left his post to pursue a political career on the national stage last year.

A number of his comments suggested that he viewed the Ultras’ exploits with barely disguised approval. Puncicate, he once said, was simply the fans “drawing first blood” from their opponent. Visiting supporters, whether Italian or foreign, tended to receive harsher treatment from Serra’s force.

The leadership of the police has changed and a tougher line towards the Ultras has been taken but the suspicion remains that the Roman force still do not offer the same levels of protection and patience towards visiting supporters.

The problem is Roman. There would be few fears if the match was being held in, say, Milan. But Uefa must have its way. And picking unsuitable venues for its showpiece games seems to be the theme of the past few years. Istanbul, Athens, Moscow and Rome were questionable choices.

If it was not so serious, Uefa’s decision to give the final to this city would be laughable. As it is, it could have you in stitches. Literally, if you are a United fan and off to Italy next week.