Football: Hooliganism mars first spring match

Hooliganism left its mark as the Czech premier football league resumed on Sunday, with Brno and Ostrava fans clashing in Brno’s stadium. Ahead of the match, Baník Ostrava fans broke through to the Brno section, leading to the fighting. The police had to be called in to take control of the situation. One fan was hospitalised in the incident, the internet news site idnes reported. The match was the first to implement new rules which leave individual clubs responsible for hiring private security. Under an agreement signed last week, the police should only be called in when situations get out of hand. The opening game between Brno and Ostrava resumed after a half-hour’s delay.