Injured Milan supporters placed under arrest in Athens

Athens - Six AC Milan supporters injured in clashes with AEK Athens fans alongside a Europa League tie were arrested by police, the Athens News Agency reported on Friday.

The fans had been taken to a local Athens hospital on Thursday and after treatment were arrested for their part in the disturbance at an Athens area metro station two hours before the clubs' match.

The Greek website protothema.gr said the Italians arrested included a 72-year-old man, a 60-year-old doctor and a 45-year-old woman lawyer, and that it was the result of "exaggerated zeal of the police to arrest hooligans".

The website reported that the Italian Embassy in Athens was angry with the arrests and that they had appointed lawyers to take up their cases.

According to local media, some 70 Milan fans refused to be transported by coaches to the Athens Olympic Stadium for the match for safety reasons, but instead travelled to the venue on the metro, only to be met at the Pefki station by AEK supporters.

Fighting between the two sides occurred and fires were set off in two metro carriages as well as damage being caused at the station, the reports said.

Riot-trained police were sent to the station to quell the violence without making any arrests on the spot.

The metro service was delayed for one hour because of the disturbance while the match ended scoreless.