Roma players Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi were spat at, insulted and pelted with missiles when they met with their club's own fans after last season's 3-0 Europa League defeat to Fiorentina, according to a police report.
The trio, together with other Roma players, were asked to testify to police authorities investigating the threatening behaviour of some of the club's hardcore fans as part of a wider investigation into mafia-like activity in the Italian capital.
Excerpts of the players' statements were published by Il Tempo on Tuesday, and they illustrated the level of ill-feeling among Roma Ultras towards their own players, including their 39-year-old captain.
"At the end of the match, my teammates and I went towards the Curva Sud where our fans had demanded at the top of their voices that we should go," said Totti of the match in March.
"During this face-to-face, we were insulted and subject to [spitting], the throwing of lighters and plastic bottles. I couldn't do anything about what happened. I was sorry, but it was not our fault."
De Rossi, second only to Totti as the longest-serving Giallorossi player, also spoke of the tirade of insults and spitting that he was subjected to.
"I realised when I got back into the dressing room that my shirt was covered in spit," he said. "I had decided to go to the Curva at the end of the game after a quick discussion with Francesco Totti, to prevent the protests from continuing outside the stadium.
"At the same time, as we approached the fencing, we all agreed between us that we would not give in to any request from the fans to take off our shirts as that would be giving in to the fans."
De Rossi felt threatened and intimidated by the fans, who threatened to turn up at his home, to which the 32-year-old said: "I beg you, not at my home."
Il Tempo published the players' statements after revealing an alleged plot to kidnap Totti's child, which reportedly prompted the Roma captain to pay from his own pocket for police to act as bodyguards.
Fans from Roma's Curva Sud have recently been criticised by the club's president James Pallotta, who branded them "f------ idiots" for their repeated misbehaviour, further antagonising an already delicate relationship.
On Sunday, fewer than 30,000 spectators turned up for the Eternal City derby, which Roma won 2-0 over hosts Lazio, as large groups of fans of both clubs boycotted the game.
Additional security measures aimed at reducing the incidences of violence at the Stadio Olimpico have upset the rival fans, who in turn are accusing their clubs of doing nothing to help get their voices heard.