UEFA likely to investigate

The quarter-final first leg match at the Spanish club's Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium ended in a 2-1 win for Sevilla, but events on the pitch were overshadowed by disturbances off it, with Tottenham fans battling with riot police, seats thrown and fans and one policeman reportedly taken to hospital.

And UEFA communications director William Gaillard said on Thursday night: "Any incidents of crowd trouble in the Sevilla against Tottenham match will be investigated by UEFA. We will study the reports from the referee and the UEFA match delegate."

The incidents came just 24 hours after riot police confronted Manchester United fans during their side's Champions League game with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Less than half an hour into the game, trouble erupted in the enclosure housing the 4,000 Spurs supporters, where riot police were deployed.

The disturbances appeared to be dying down when Alexander Kerzhakov headed the Spanish side into a 2-1 lead in the 36th minute. But the goal did little for the mood of the Tottenham fans, and more riot police were drafted into the stadium in a bid to bring the situation under control.

Seats and punches were thrown as the the clashes continued during the half-time interval. However, things settled down following the departure of the riot police from the Spurs enclosure at the start of the second half.

Although this meant there was little segregation between the two sets of supporters, there was no repeat of the violent scenes in the second half as fans focused on the action.

Earlier, police were needed to separate both sets of supporters outside the ground prior to kick-off. The incident occurred about an hour before the start of the match as Tottenham fans made their way towards the ground.

A group of around 50 Spurs fans were chanting, gesticulating and causing an obstruction for passing vehicles in the street opposite a hotel where the Sevilla team were located.