English Fans in Two Disturbances
Police broke up two brief but violent disturbances involving English soccer fans Saturday at Stuttgart, Germany, arresting more than 300 people the day before England plays Ecuador in a World Cup second-round match.
After Germany’s 2-0 afternoon win over Sweden, English and German fans clashed in a plaza near outdoor viewing screens in the southern German city. German fans were singing in celebration when England fans began throwing plastic chairs and bottles at them, police said.
In all, 200 people were arrested, most of them English, police spokesman Stefan Keilbach said.
About 50,000 England fans were expected in Stuttgart for today’s England-Ecuador match. They were greeted by a heavy security presence -- about 1,800 officers on patrol along with British police.
Early Saturday in the same downtown area, police arrested 122 English fans who had been throwing bottles and glasses at passersby from a pub terrace.
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Switzerland defender Philippe Senderos will be sidelined for at least two weeks after dislocating his right shoulder in Friday’s match against South Korea. Switzerland plays its second-round game Monday against Ukraine.
Italy will be without defender Alessandro Nesta in its second-round game against Australia on Monday. Nesta has been bothered by a muscle problem in his right thigh for the last couple of months and was forced to leave Thursday’s game against the Czech Republic early in the first half.
“He’s definitely out for Monday. We hope he recuperates as soon as possible so that he can play again in this World Cup,” team physician Enrico Castellacci said Saturday.
Brazil striker Robinho was also hurt, leaving practice early because of a thigh injury, putting him in doubt for the team’s second-round match against Ghana on Tuesday.
