Belgrade, October 14 - Football fans rioted in Belgrade's "Maracana" stadium, forcing abandonment of a Yugoslav football first division match between Red Star and Partizan.
Partizan fans sparked trouble by tossing
fireworks and stadium seats at rival fans and on to the
pitch.
Hundreds of Red Star supporters broke out of their end of the ground and
raced across the pitch to confront the Partizan fans.
Red Star fan with a torch
runs across the field
|
Some Partizan fans broke out of their fenced-off
section in turn and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting, but
most stayed put until riot police finally arrived.
The police managed to break up the melee.
Around 40 people were injured in the violence, one of them
seriously, local media quoted hospital officials as saying.
Several Partizan players were attacked by fans from the Red Star
section and later appeared sporting stitches and facial cuts.
"Red Star supporters were after us and the Red Star players
helped us to escape with only minor injuries," said Partizan
captain Sasa Ilic. "The physical damage is insignificant. We
suffered more psychologically."
The match was later called off.
