Four taken to hospital after fan clashes

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ROME, Feb 7, 2010 (AFP) - Four people, including a policeman, were taken to hospital after clashes broke out in Udine ahead of the Serie A match between Udinese and Napoli on Sunday, a police spokesman confirmed.

The Udinese fan was cut on the leg while two other Udinese supporters and a policeman suffered minor head injuries in a pair of separate clashes before police managed to break up the rival fans.

All four were quickly released from hospital following their injuries.

The troubles started as soon as the gates opened at the Stadio Friuli and lasted around half an hour. Order was restored ahead of kick-off.

A certain group of hardcore Napoli fans are notorious for the trouble they cause and last season wrecked a train and buses taking them to Rome's Stadio Olimpico ahead of the first game of the season against AS Roma.

That resulted in a year-long ban on Napoli fans travelling to away games, although they had been relatively quiet so far this campaign.