POLICE DETAIN 40 PEOPLE OVER CROATIA-AJAX FOOTBALL MATCH

( Editorial: --> 1081 ) ZAGREB, Sept 17 (Hina) - A 35-year-old Dutch national injured during a scuffle before Wednesday night's UEFA Champions League football match in Zagreb has been flown to the Netherlands. Robert V. received light injuries inflicted with a sharp object from an unknown person at about 3pm on Wednesday in a central Zagreb street. Before the incident, rival fans had thrown insults at each other and started a fight in the central Ban Jelacic Square. After a medical check-up the Dutchman was taken to Zagreb Airport for a flight home. According to Zagreb police sources, about 30,000 people, including 250 overseas fans, had attended the Croatia Zagreb-Ajax Amsterdam game at Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium. Twenty-eight people were detained by police for preventative reasons, mostly because of drunkenness, while 12 people were arrested for disturbing public order and peace. Police allowed an extra 2,000 spectators with bought tickets to enter the stadium, even though it was assessed that the stadium was full. According to unofficial sources, 2,000 tickets had been oversold. Still, a group of ticket-holders were left outside the stadium and could not watch the match. Police said there were no serious clashes between rival fans nor amongst local fans. The Zagreb public transport operator ZET and police do not know if fans were responsible for damage done to two tram carriages last night. (Hina) mbr/rml 171620 MET sep 98