Clashes ahead Sarajevo football match
July 14, 2015
The fighting between visiting fans of Lech Poznan and supporters of the Bosnian champions, FK Sarajevo started just before midnight on Monday and lasted for several hours, according to Irfan Nefic, a Sarajevo Canton police spokesman, cited by local media.
The clashes broke out around a hotel in Vogosca, a town located six kilometers (3.8 miles) to the north of the Bosnian capital, where the Polish fans were staying, and lasted for several hours.
Nefic said the fighting resulted in serious damage to the hotels and nearby restaurants and cafes, as well as both police and civilian vehicles. Local police were forced to call in reinforcements to bring the situation under control.
Muamera Sehic, a spokesperson for the Sarajevo University Clinical Center, told the Reuters news agency that 11 Bosnians and seven Poles had been admitted for treatment early on Tuesday.
"Three Bosnians have suffered serious injuries to their heads and will stay in the center for further treatment," she said.
On Tuesday, Bosnian website BiHFootball tweeted pictures of police surrounding the hotel where the Lech fans were staying.
Contacted via Twitter, BiHFootball said it appeared that the police were preparing to transport the fans to Sarajevo for tonight's match, the first leg of the second round of Champions League qualifying between Lech and the Bosnian champions, FK Sarajevo.
The second leg is to be played in Poland next week.
pfd/msh (Reuters, FENA)