Twenty-three Feyenoord fans were arrested in Rome and 19 charged after violence broke out before the Dutch side’s Europa League clash with Roma yesterday, prompting an outcry over damage to the city’s monuments.

Drunk fans damaged buildings and threw bottles at riot police on Wednesday night before hundreds clashed with police at the Spanish Steps yesterday before the game.

Police fired tear gas and tangled with fans, who left the square’s Baroque fountain full of empty beer bottles.

“Rome has been violated today,” local government councillor Paolo Masini said in a statement, describing tourists holed up in hotels and shutters on nearby windows lowered out of fear. “This is pure and simple hooliganism,” he said.

Italian police said they arrested six Dutch nationals on Wednesday night and confiscated truncheons and broken bottles. Judicial sources said a further 17 people were arrested yesterday, and magistrates will deal with the four not yet charged next week.

Livio Ricciardelli, a member of the city government, said Feyenoord should make a public apology and pay for the damage caused to the city by its fans, adding that repairs to the fountain at the bottom of the Spanish Steps would be costly.

Most of the charges against fans are for resisting arrest, judicial sources said, adding that the first eight charged were given six months jail time, or they can pay a €45,000 fine.

Rome’s public works department said staff had been sent to empty and clean the Barcaccia fountain, a boat carved out of travertine stone that nestles in an oval pool at the foot of the Spanish Steps.

Around 6,500 Feyenoord supporters attended the last 32, first leg match at the Stadio Olimpico which ended 1-1.