Two Brighton fans have been stabbed in central Rome ahead of their Europa League match against AS Roma tonight, Italian media have reported.

The duo were set upon by seven people wearing masks in the early hours of the morning while walking on Via Cavour in the capital’s Monti neighbourhood, according to La Repubblica.

The group left the pair of supporters with stab wounds to their legs, before stealing bags containing their wallets and documents.

Police attended the scene and are investigating the incident, which saw the fans taken to Rome’s San Giovanni hospital.

One of the pair, 28, received three stab wounds to his left thigh, while the other, 29, was stabbed several times on his right thigh, La Repubblica reported.

The English fans were found bleeding on the ground by a restauranteur on Via Monte Polacco who then called the police.

Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from the area in an attempt to identify the attackers.