280 arrested in Brussels violence

BRUSSELS - Around 280 fans were arrested amid violence around Friday evening’s Euro 2012 qualifying match between Belgium and Germany, the German football federation DFB said.

DFB general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach said clashes broke out between police and supporters in the centre of Brussels.

Between 500 and 700 German football hooligans who had travelled to Belgium had been stopped by police outside the stadium.

Around 9,000 German fans had tickets for the match. But German officials had criticised the direct sales by Belgium of some 6,500 tickets to German supporters. Around 2,500 tickets were sold via the official DFB channels and supporters’ clubs.