'Roman centurions' in violent scuffle with police outside Colosseum

Men dressed as Roman centurions protest outside the Colosseum in Rome. Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters
Italian men dressed as Roman centurions have scuffled with police outside Rome's Colosseum over their right to pose for photos with tourists in return for payment.

One man was taken away on a stretcher as about 60 centurions and supporters stopped tourists entering the Colosseum, waved fake swords and tussled with police in protest at a decorum drive which has seen them banned from plying their trade outside Roman monuments.

As two centurions who had unfurled banners from an upper tier of the Colosseum were evicted from the site by police, their armour-wearing colleagues chanted abuse at officers as some tourists reportedly yelled: "We're with the centurions."

The centurions are well-known to Roman police. In the wake of claims that they were selling fake tours to tourists and pressuring visitors into handing over large sums for a photograph, 30 arrests were made last August. Rival bands of centurions fighting a turf war have also traded blows outside the Colosseum.

Spokesmen for the centurions, who have recently held meetings with city officials over the new ban, claim they would like to see their unlicensed profession recognised, with licenses and identity badges handed out.