Galliani soaked by fans at Sensi funeral

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani was soaked by a bottle of water and insulted by rival fans as he arrived for the funeral of Roma president Franco Sensi yesterday, a Reuters witness said.

Galliani was jeered by a group of Roma fans outside the church in Rome as water was thrown over him. Inter president Massimo Moratti was also heckled on his arrival.

Sensi, 82, died on Sunday after a long illness, having been Roma president for 15 years.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, captain Francesco Totti and new signing Julio Baptista were among those to carry Sensi's coffin at the service.

Thousands of Roma fans passed by his coffin to pay their respects on Tuesday and several hundred mourners attended the San Lorenzo al Verano Church, for a service dedicated to the memory of Sensi, the most successful president in the club's history.

There was a touching address from veteran striker Vincenzo Montella.

"Nobody could forget the passion with which he always followed us," he said. "We will try and continue to make him smile from up above."

Galliani never saw eye to eye with Sensi and it is believed that the hardline Roma fans were angry that he had attended the service.

The incident is another worry for the authorities in their bid to stop football-related violence and comes just days after an attack on Bari coach Antonio Conte in Lecce.

The former Juventus player was on the beach with friends for a futsal match when he was set upon by thugs who thought he was a 'traitor' for being in charge of local rivals Bari.

"It was a premeditated attack. Someone told them I was there," Conte said.

"Physically I am fine, but psychologically I am hurting badly. I am furious at this incredibly serious incident. It happened in front of my wife, my nine-month-old baby and many other children who were at the beach."