Ankara, Aug 16: Violent clashes left 12 fans injured at a Turkish league match, fuelling more fears over possible hooliganism at Turkey's Euro 2004 showdown against England in October.
At least 300 police officers were deployed during yesterday's game between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce after fighting broke out between the two sets of supporters during half-time.
Dozens of officers had already been deployed but were overwhelmed, even though they had been using truncheons.
A child and a police officer were among the injured, according to the press agency.
All the Fener fans were evacuated from the Avni Aker stadium in the Black Sea coastal city Trabzon, where for the first time in years, fencing separating the fans from the pitch had been taken down in the spirit of fair play.

The Turkish Football Federation is in the spotlight over football-related violence ahead of the potentially explosive Euro 2004 qualifier on October 11 between Turkey and England at the Fenerbahce stadium in Istanbul.

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European football's governing body UEFA has threatened to throw both sides out of European football if there is a repeat of the scenes which followed the England-Turkey game at Sunderland in April.

Yesterday's incident comes after a 22-year-old Turkish student died from knife wounds sustained in a brawl during a friendly match between two second division sides in Izmir on August 05.
Bureau Report