Fans arrested after night of violence

Two West Ham fans have been arrested and another injured after a night of clashes with rival fans in Italy.

The supporters were in Sicily for the return leg of West Ham’s UEFA Cup clash with Palermo tonight.

Tension was already high after T-shirts bearing the slogan ‘The Mafia’ – a reference to Sicily’s links with the Italian criminal underworld – were sold outside Upton Park ahead of the first leg earlier this month, which the Hammers lost 1-0.

Trouble flared just before midnight and continued for more than an hour as rival groups threw bottles and chairs at each other at the city’s Teatro Massimo.

Police managed to separate the two groups and the West Ham fans were put on three buses and driven away from the centre.

It took police in riot gear more than an hour to bring the situation under control, and six fans, one Briton and five Italians, were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Police said that two West Ham fans, aged 41 and 32, were in custody today accused of assault and resisting arrest.

Officials said that more than 2,500 West Ham fans had travelled to Palermo for the game and extra security would be in place tonight.

A spokesman added: “We had been alert already ahead of the match and now we will be increasing security.

“The clashes were in the city centre between two groups of fans and left the streets covered in glass.

“Bottles, cans, glasses and chairs were thrown by both groups – it was a huge battle which took more than an hour to control.

“We would appeal for both sets of fans to keep calm and not react to provocation from opposition fans.”