Fan violence at game in Germany leaves 79 injured

The game was played in the city of Jena in the east-central part of the country

German police say 79 people were injured after violent disturbances between rival groups of supporters following a regional league game on Saturday.

Fans of FC Carl Zeiss Jena and BSG Chemie Leipzig forced open gates separating them and used what police described as "uninhibited violence" after the game in Jena.

Tear gas and batons were used by the authorities to break up the incident but 64 supporters, 10 police officers and five stewards were injured.

Before the game, about 350 home fans had gone on an unannounced march through the city setting off pyrotechnics, with the police forced to halt it.

During the game, which was won 5-0 by the home side and played in front of 7,224 at the Ernst-Abbe Sportfeld, pyrotechnics were repeatedly set off by both sides.

FC Carl Zeiss Jena said it was an "unpleasant end" to the game and wished those affected "a good and quick recovery".