At least three Middlesbrough supporters were stabbed during clashes with rival fans in Rome, British police said on Wednesday, blaming the violence on organised gangs of locals.

The trouble flared late on Tuesday in Campo de' Fiori, a popular square for late-night revellers in central Rome, where some 200 Middlesbrough fans were drinking ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Cup game against AS Roma.

British police, who had officers in Rome, said the Middlesbrough fans were attacked by a gang of Roma supporters masked with bandanas and scarves.

Three people were stabbed including a 39-year-old who had wounds to his back and chest, and underwent an operation overnight, British police said.

A British embassy spokesman said all 13 Britons who had been treated in hospital had been discharged by Wednesday.

"They (the gangs) came into the square and went to the Middlesbrough supporters who were drinking both inside and outside the Drunken Ship (pub) and there the confrontation took place," Superintendent Steve Swales of Cleveland police told reporters.

"They started throwing the fire crackers, they started throwing bottles, they started throwing chairs.

"The vast majority of the Middlesbrough supporters that were there were what we would describe as good, normal, shirt-wearing supporters of Middlesbrough not hooligans, not people known for trouble."

The scene caused mayhem in the often bustling but rarely dangerous Rome square. Italian police in full riot gear broke up the scuffles.

The embassy spokesman said four Italians had been arrested, but Italian police said there had been no formal arrests.

On Wednesday Rome authorities imposed a ban on alcohol sales in the area and around the Olympic stadium where the match was due to kick off at 9 p.m. (2000 GMT).

British police appealed for calm.

"Whatever happens we do not want anybody seeking any kind of retribution for this. We are here for a football match and football has to be the winner at the end of this and not the violence," Swales said.

Middlesbrough won the first leg of their last 16 tie against Roma 1-0 at the Riverside on March 9.

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