GERMAN FANS THREW BOTTLES AND CHAIRS AT POLICE DURING CLASHES WEDNESDAY BEFORE THEIR TEAM'S WORLD CUP GAME AGAINST POLAND, AND 60 POLISH FANS WERE PLACED UNDER TEMPORARY ARREST TO PREVENT VIOLENCE BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPS, DPA REPORTED. THE TOURNAMENT'S FIRST MAJOR TROUBLE BY GERMAN FANS BEGAN AFTER DORTMUND POLICE RINGED WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS ABOUT 100 KNOWN FOOTBALL HOOLIGANS TO TAKE THEM INTO TEMPORARY CUSTODY. THE FANS RIOTED, AND SEVERAL DOZEN BROKE OUT AND GOT AWAY, POLICE SAID. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POLISH FANS FLOCKED TO DORTMUND TO WATCH THE EVENING MATCH IN THE 60,000-SEAT WESTFALEN STADIUM OR ON GIANT SCREENS SET UP AROUND TOWN. EARLIER, POLICE SAID THEY TOOK 60 POLES INTO CUSTODY FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION. A BRITON AND A POLE WHO WERE ON A LIST OF SUSPECTED HOOLIGANS WERE TURNED BACK AT THE CITY'S AIRPORT AFTER ARRIVING BY PLANE FROM LONDON. POLICE BUSED AT LEAST 30 OF THE POLES FROM DOWNTOWN DORTMUND TO AN ASSEMBLY POINT. ALL OF THE POLES WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION, POLICE SAID.
