BOCHUM, Germany (AP) — A policeman was in hospital with a suspected broken spine after clashes with hooligans following a Bundesliga soccer match involving Karlsruher SC.
Police said Sunday two other officers were hurt when they protected the officer after he was knocked down by the hooligans and kicked in the head and body during VfL Bochum’s 2-2 tie against visiting Karlsruhe on Saturday.
One officer had face wounds, another had hand injuries, while the hospitalized officer faces the possibility he could be paralyzed.
"It could be very dangerous, but we won’t know until tomorrow when experts look at him," Bochum police captain Thomas Achtelik said.
Police arrested two men but said it wasn’t established if they belonged to the hooligans, which Achtelik described as aggressive "ultras" — the name for Germany’s most hardcore hooligans.
Karlsruhe fans were tossed from the stadium just before kickoff for fighting and outside were joined by 100 hooligans. Together they tried to crash the stadium gates, overwhelming security personnel.
Police were then called, leading to the injured officer being knocked down and beaten by the hooligans. Achtelik said police wouldn’t release the number of officers involved in the clashes.
Police clashes with hooligans happen on a regular basis in Germany, but its rare an officer is seriously injured.
In Leipzig, 40 to 60 masked people wielding baseball bats and fireworks attacked fans of FC Sachsen while they were at a sports bar Christmas party.
Police said the fans refused medical attention, although some were bleeding, and wouldn’t help identify the culprits. Outside the bar, car windows were broken and tires slashed.