Police detain about 50 German hooligans

COLOGNE, June 21 (Reuters) Police detained about 50 known German hooligans in the historic World Cup host city of Cologne, they said as sporadic violence broke out amongst drunken fans.

Tens of thousands of England and Sweden fans had poured into the city for their Group B match while Germany supporters were celebrating a 3-0 win over Ecuador earlier in the day.

''We have detained some 50 German hooligans to avoid further provocation and violence,'' Cologne police spokesman Bernd Kalkum said yesterday. ''They were resisting their detention and it was not all peaceful.'' Kalkum added that all the men detained were registered as trouble-makers and would be kept overnight.

Cologne Police president Klaus Steffenhagen told Reuters TV that about 30 German hooligans had been arrested and added that some sporadic violence had broken out at the same time.

''There was an incident with drunken people who were throwing bottles,'' he said. ''It was a difficult situation but there were enough policemen around.

''They handled the situation with great professionalism.'' UNDER CONTROL A Reuters photographer said drunken fans had thrown bottles and some chairs at police but the situation was quickly brought under control.

Reuters TV pictures showed police forces running in riot gear through Cologne's cobbled city centre squares, detaining one English and one German fan.

Police said also they had detained five English fans at the stadium for rowdy and drunken behaviour as they were climbing over security fences, while another person had been arrested with 32 fake entry tickets in his pockets.

Cologne's Rhein-Energie-Stadion hosted the Group B match between England and Sweden that ended in a 2-2 draw yesterday with both teams qualifying for the second round.

Germany won their Group A match against Ecuador earlier yesterday and will play Sweden in the last 16 in Munich on Saturday.

England will play Ecuador in Stuttgart on Sunday.

Reuters AY GC1039