A football fan had to have part of his lower leg amputated after escalator stairs crumpled at a metro station in Rome.

Around 24 people were injured when the escalator accelerated suddenly, with those riding on it collapsing on to one another.

One man's foot was partially severed in the accident, Milan's Corriere Della Sera newspaper reported.

A witness said they heard a “roar” and there was “no time” to stop people being injured in the crush.

Investigators closed the Piazza Repubblica station to establish the cause.

“The scene that we found was people piled up at the bottom of the escalator,” Giampietro Boscaino, Rome’s provincial fire chief, said.

“People one on the top of the other looking for help. They had various injuries caused by the escalator that was twisted, therefore serious injuries.”

Most of those injured were Russian football fans in town ahead of a Champion’s League game between CSKA Moscow and Roma. Firefighters said seven were in a serious condition.

Football fans were reportedly trapped between the metal plates of the steps (Reuters)

A video of the accident on state TV showed the packed escalator suddenly speed up, throwing people towards the bottom.

Passengers on the escalator opposite can be seen trying to pull others to safety, while some jumped onto the steep central reservation.

The metal plates of the steps reportedly trapped several people.

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Separately, one CSKA fan was slashed with a knife during clashes with opposing fans outside the Stadio Olimpico.