Four Napoli 'hooligans' arrested

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ROME, Feb 9, 2010 (AFP) - Four Napoli fans were arrested and weapons were seized in overnight raids on several homes, police said Tuesday.

Two people were taken away to jail and two others placed under house arrest while two iron bars, two knives, three penknives, ball bearings, two balaclavas and several bullets were seized.

Police searched 15 homes belonging to members of two notorious supporter groups associated with Napoli, the Mastifs and Feddayn.

The arrests related to incidents from last season and had nothing to do with the trouble before Napoli's away match against Udinese on Sunday.

Eight Napoli fans were arrested and held on Sunday, while a further arrest was made on Tuesday by Friulani police after viewing video footage.

Two people were released on Tuesday while the other six arrested on Sunday will appear in court on Wednesday.

According to local police in Udine, the trouble began when Napoli fans attacked Udinese fans as the gates to the stadium were opened ahead of the game.

Police then moved in to quell the trouble but seven people, including a policeman, suffered injuries in the melee.

Napoli fans have a poor reputation in Italy and were banned from all away matches last season after riots broke out on their way to the opening game of the campaign away to AS Roma, during which a train and several buses were trashed.

bc10/cwh