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About 140 German fans arrested in Klagenfurt before Euro match
KLAGENFURT, Austria (AFP) - Police said Sunday they had arrested some 140 German fans Sunday evening in Klagenfurt but managed to avoid any violence in the southern Austrian town, ahead of a Euro 2008 group stage match.
"Around 8:30 pm (1830gmt), about 140 risk fans were surrounded and arrested by police, following dangerous attacks, minor violations and suspicions of criminal actions," Klagenfurt police said in a statement.
"These measures were necessary to prevent these risk fans from carrying out further violations," it added.
The majority of the fans were German nationals, and Austrian and German police officers had been watching them for a while before they arrested them, the statement also said.
Police were still verifying their identities, it added.
The Austria Press Agency (APA) reported earlier that all arrested fans would be expelled from the country.
An AFP photographer witnessed a first group of about 60 men being arrested, after they chanted racist slogans, including "all Poles should have to wear yellow stars," referring to the insignia the Nazis forced Jews to wear before and during World War II.
A few of the fans managed to run away but the majority were taken into custody.
Another group chanting similar Nazi slogans such as "German fight back. Don't buy from Poles," was also arrested and taken away in police vans.
"Thanks to its information and timely intervention, the police was able to restore order in the fan zone and ensure the security of peaceful fans," the police statement said.
Germany met Poland Sunday in Klagenfurt in their first Euro 2008 group stage match, prompting fears of violence between the notoriously tumultuous fans.
Five fans were arrested earlier Sunday for other minor offences, while on Saturday evening, sixteen supporters had been arrested following some fighting, although they were later released.
A few arguments also occurred between mostly drunken fans in the fan zone during the match but the much-dreaded violence did not materialise.
Organisers estimated some 25,000 German fans and 20,000 Poles would come to Klagenfurt for Sunday's game, which Germany won 2-0.
On top of the 2,000 local police officers, some 400 German officers and 25 Poles were on hand in Klagenfurt Sunday to prevent any violence.
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Goals
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L. Podolski 20'
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1 - 0 |
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L. Podolski 72'
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2 - 0 |
Lineups
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
| J. Lehmann | |
| M. Jansen | |
| P. Lahm | |
| P. Mertesacker | |
| C. Metzelder | |
C. Fritz
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| M. Ballack | |
| T. Frings | |
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M. Klose
|
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M. Gomez
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| L. Podolski | |
| Coach: J. Löw | |
Substitutions
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
|
for C. Fritz 55' |
 64'
|
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for M. Gomez 76' |
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for M. Klose 90' |
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
| A. Boruc | |
| J. Bak | |
| M. Wasilewski | |
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P. Golanski
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| Michal Zewlakow | |
| D. Dudka | |
| J. Krzynowek | |
| M. Lewandowski |
60'
|
| E. Smolarek |
40'
|
|
W. Lobodzinski
|
|
|
M. Zurawski
|
|
Substitutions
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
|
for M. Zurawski 45' |
|
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for W. Lobodzinski 65' |
|
|
for P. Golanski 75' |
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