Manchester United have condemned the "over-reaction" of Italian police at the Olympic Stadium last night and called on the government to take action against them.

United officials watched in shock as their 4,000-strong travelling support was attacked by riot police in the aftermath of Taddei's opening goal in AS Roma's 2-1 Champions League win and issued a statement which said: "The disturbing scenes witnessed in the Stadio Olimpico last night shocked everyone at Old Trafford.

"In what the club views as a serious over-reaction, local police handed out indiscriminate beatings to United supporters. In those circumstances, neither Manchester United nor AS Roma is able to call the police to account. As a result, the club warmly welcomes the government examination of the incidents and will collect witness statements from fans to submit to the Home Office.

"Supporters who attended the game and wish to submit their evidence should either write to: Roma Inquiry, Manchester United FC, Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester, M14 0RA or e-mail roma@manutd.co.uk"

The Home Office have confirmed they will gather information from all relevant sources before deciding whether to approach Uefa about their concerns.

Under Italian law, the local police force are responsible for safety within their major stadiums but they are particularly sensitive at the moment as it is only two months since an officer was killed at the Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo.

However, it is the one-sided nature of the confrontation which raised eyebrows. While the Roma supporters were able to hurl missiles into the visiting section of the stadium and charge towards the perspex barrier following Taddei's goal with impunity, United fans doing exactly the same thing in response were met with extreme force.

Carly Lyes, a 23-year-old United supporter from Rusholme, needed medical treatment for a wrist injury sustained as police seized her camera as she was filming an eye-witness account of the trouble. She claims police were continuing to strike supporters with batons even after they were on the ground covered in blood. She added that one fan was also struck despite apparently being unconcious.

"The police clearly did not want me to film what they were doing," said Lyes. "It was awful. Even when I was getting treatment for my injuries supporters were still getting hit on the concourse below. One fan had blood pouring from his head and another was unconcious but the police kept on wading in.

"I was screaming and shouting for them to stop, but they just ignored me. There weren't saying anything, just lashing out in all directions. You can tell how rough the police were by the injury I suffered trying to keep hold of my camera. Their tactics were just disgusting."