Brawling fans, acts of drunken vandalism and the sight of supporters being dragged off to police cells have marked the start of Euro 2008, prompting fears of more problems to come on Sunday.
Though the numbers involved were limited, the appearance of football’s uglier face so early at the tournament in Switzerland and Austria will be a disappointment to organisers.
The football fared no better for the Swiss, who were beaten 1-0 by Czech Republic on Saturday and had their best player, striker Alex Frei, ruled out of the finals on Sunday after damaging knee ligaments in their opener at Basel.
While Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn considers his tactical options, the prospect of more hooliganism will keep security chiefs busy.
Austrian police said 17 people were arrested overnight in Klagenfurt, which is the host city for Germany’s opening game in Group B against Poland on Sunday.
Known hooligans were involved in the brawls, an ominous echo of the trouble that erupted when the teams met in the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany.
Police are expecting more trouble before and after Sunday’s game, which kicks off at 6.45pm GMT, with potentially violent fans from Germany, Austria and Poland known to be heading there, according to Austrian police.
Swiss police blamed excessive drinking for the vandalism and fighting in Basel.
Temporary jail
A dozen people were taken to a temporary jail there, while 20 had to make use of a sobering-up facility.
The fear of hooliganism is certainly potent in Austria.
Two months after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, a survey found that one in five Austrians questioned still expected Englishmen to be the main cause of trouble.
However, the centre of Vienna appeared trouble-free on Sunday, as thousands of Croatia fans, resplendent in their team’s chequered red and white shirts, gathered ahead of their team’s Group B game against Austria at 4pm GMT.
Singing, banging drums and waving flags, the Croatians provided the first real Euro 2008 atmosphere in the elegant Austrian capital. – Reuters