UEFA probe second night of mayhem

Tottenham fans clashed with police in Spain on Thursday night during their UEFA Cup tie at Sevilla just 24 hours after Manchester United's Champions League match at Roma had been marred by similar problems.

European football's governing body UEFA are to investigate both incidences of crowd disorder.

Reports in Spain suggested eight people had been taken to hospital with minor injuries, seven of whom were thought to be Tottenham fans, one with a suspected broken wrist. One policeman was also reportedly injured.

Riot police had been deployed in the area housing around 4,000 Spurs fans less than half an hour into the game.

The problems appeared to die down but were reignited after after Alexander Kerzhakov headed the ultimately decisive goal in the 36th minute. More police were brought in to control the situation but seats and punches were thrown in clashes that continued during the half-time interval.

The police had earlier needed to separate rival sets of supporters outside the ground.

The incidents echoed events at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome the previous night when police attacked United fans with batons. Trouble began after rival fans threw missiles and then surged towards a barrier separating them.

The police were later criticised strongly by United for a heavy-handed attitude. Rome police have defended the conduct of their officers.

The scenes brought back reminders of a hooligan-dominated era in the mid-1980s that eventually led to English clubs being banned from European competition for six years.