32 injured as German police, football fans clash in Hamburg

At least 15 football fans and 17 police officers were injured during brawls on the sidelines of a second division match between German football clubs St Pauli and Hannover 96, reported Xinhua, quoting Hamburg police.

One of the injured fans had to be taken to hospital in the northern German city while one police officer suffered multiple fractures.

The number of people detained by police was not given.

The cause for the riot in the visiting fans block on Friday evening was unclear, police said.

According to a police report, one fan was "severely attacked" and kicked while already on the ground. After the police intervened, the clashes between fans and police officers began. The match was interrupted for around five minutes due to the incidents but eventually resumed.

A fan organization for Hamburg's St Pauli club called the police intervention "inappropriate and disproportionate."

The police say they entered the brawl to prevent an escalation of violence.

Hannover 96 coach Stefan Leitl and St Pauli coach Fabian Hürzeler condemned the riots.

After the game, the police reported that St Pauli fans were attacked in the streets with bottles, rocks and pyrotechnics. The police responded by using pepper spray.