Anderlecht, Marseille fans arrested

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PARIS, Feb 25, 2010 (AFP) - Police in Belgium and France arrested scores of supporters ahead of Thursday's Europa League games in Brussels and Marseille.

In the Belgian capital police detained around 100 Anderlecht supporters before the round of 32 second-leg game with Spanish side Athletic Bilbao.

The fans were detained as they tried to make their way to the Grand Place in the centre of the Belgian capital.

A Belgian police spokesman explained that the group was clearly intent "on provoking visiting fans who are in the city".

Belgian police have beefed up their presence around Anderlecht's stadium and in Brussels for the match following violent clashes in the first leg in Bilbao.

Four Anderlecht fans and one Athletic supporter were arrested and around a dozen security officers received minor injuries in clashes that marred last week's 1-1 draw.

After the final whistle in Bilbao renewed clashes erupted on Athletic's pitch between rival fans and security.

Anderlecht, who laid the blame for the trouble with their Basque counterparts' poor organisation, had appealed for calm before Thursday's game.

In France, six Paris Saint-Germain fans were arrested near Marseille's Velodrome stadium half an hour before Marseille's game against Danish side FC Copenhagen.

According to a police source the group was trying to mingle with the Danish fans in a bid to start fights with the home crowd.

PSG play their fierce rivals Marseille in the French capital in a league game classed as high risk on Sunday.