Serb football fans clash with Italian police

Fourteen people were hospitalised Wednesday after Serbian fans clashed with Italian police following the aborted Euro 2012 qualifier between Italy and Serbia, the ANSA news agency reported.

The most seriously injured was a member of Italy’s paramilitary caribinieri, who was rushed to hospital after after a banger exploded in his face. A Serbian fan also suffered facial injuries.

The match, in the northern city of Genoa was abandoned Tuesday night after just six minutes due to Serbian fans throwing flares onto the pitch and at rival Italy supporters.

After the game in the early hours of Wednesday morning Italian police kept those Serbian fans they considered to be the troublemakers hemmed into a gated parking area, with the intention of releasing them to coaches in small groups.

The clashes started when some of the fans managed to break out and police in riot gear moved in try to push them back inside the barriers.

The fans who caused the trouble at the match were linked to the two rival Serbian teams, Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade, ANSA reported, citing witnesses at the scene.

Hardcore Genoa and Sampdoria fans, the Italian city’s two teams, reportedly came to the scene to help the police but were persuaded to leave.

By 1:00 am (1100 GMT), coaches carrying the Serbian supporters had begun to leave the city.