Liverpool fan injured in brawl with rivals

An English football fan suffered head injuries and 19 people were arrested after supporters of Liverpool and the Swiss club Basle fought before the clubs’ Champions League match, police said today.

An incendiary device was thrown at a fast-food restaurant during the fight, which involved about 100 people near the main train station in the Swiss capital Zurich last night.

The trouble caused damage estimated at 10,000 Swiss francs (€6,840).

A 35-year-old man, who was not named but came from Liverpool, was taken to hospital. His condition was not yet known.

Police in Zurich said most of the arrests were of men from the Basle area but the group also included people from Germany and England.

Basle fans have been involved in most of the recent cases of soccer hooliganism in Switzerland, including a rampage at a local league match in the city in August which led to 33 arrests.

Liverpool take on the Swiss club tonight with Basle needing just a draw to qualify for the next stage.

The Merseyside club will go through if Basle lose.

The last meeting between the two clubs, at Anfield in September, ended in a 1-1 draw.