Sport | Football
Austrian police arrest 12 after Turkey v Croatia Euro 2008 tie
Austrian police arrested 12 people overnight after Turkey's victory over Croatia in a European Championship quarterfinal triggered violence around Vienna.
- AP
- Published: 15:41 June 21, 2008
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Turkey beat Croatia in shootout thriller
Turkey beat Croatia in shootout thriller
Vienna: Austrian police arrested 12 people overnight after Turkey's victory over Croatia in a European Championship quarterfinal triggered violence around Vienna.
Reacting to the arrests, Uefa said on Saturday that the violence was limited to scuffles and a few fist fights. But both the Croatian and Turkish football federations are likely to be disciplined after flares were let off inside the stadium during the 1-1 extra-time draw, after which Turkey won a penalty shootout 3-1.
"We don't accept (flares)," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said. "The Croatian FA was actually fined 8,000 Swiss francs after its game against Austria. Of course we have security procedures and people coming should be frisked, but it is difficult to avoid that out of 50,000 people a few will be able to conceal something like a flare."
Gaillard said that the setting off of flares continued to be a concern but was not as prevalent as a few years ago.
Gaillard said three fans were arrested at the stadium and there were a few fists fights among Croats at their end of the ground.
Police said that more than a dozen fans were hurt in the city centre but that they were still tallying the precise number following attacks by Turkish fans on Croatian supporters in the final minutes of Friday's game.
The melee erupted in the main fan zone on a square next to City Hall. No major injuries were reported, but first aid personnel had to treat some fans for bloody noses and other superficial injuries.
Although some unruly Croatian fans were seen shouting Nazi slogans and giving "Heil Hitler" salutes, police spokesman Christian Stella said the violence "was not hooliganism, but more of a beer brawl."
Authorities in the city of Bregenz in Austria's westernmost province of Vorarlberg said an 18-year-old Turkish fan was hospitalized after someone shot him with an air pistol.
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