By Louis van Boxel-Woolf
(Reuters) – Viennese football clubs Rapid Wien and Austria Wien have agreed to hold the next four games between them without away fans, the clubs said on Tuesday, after their derby match on Sunday resulted in at least thirteen injuries.
The clubs decided on the measure to best guarantee fans’ safety, they said, adding that they were working on precautions to enable the return of away fans in the coming months.
“This is the best way of preventing further damage to SK Rapid,” the Austrian Bundesliga leaders said in a statement.
“Violence should not and must not have a place in our sport,” they added.
Fans of both clubs had set off pyrotechnics even before the game started, the Viennese police said, adding that there were violent clashes during the match that culminated in a pitch invasion after the final whistle.
Videos posted to social media showed masked men on the pitch, some holding sticks, with smoke billowing from pyrotechnics.
At least 10 police officers were injured, the police said in a post on X on Sunday, and at least three fans were injured according to a statement issued on the same day.
Criminal charges had been brought against four people, the statement added.
Reuters has asked the Viennese Police for the figures as of Tuesday.
Rapid Wien won the league game 2-1.
(Reporting by Louis van Boxel-Woolf; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibilty for its content.