Violence mars Balkans soccer clash

Security was tight before the game

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- The first football match between Bosnia and Yugoslavia since the end of their brutal three-year war in the mid-1990s proved far from friendly.

Several policemen and fans were hurt in clashes after the "friendly" game on Wednesday, which the Yugoslavs won 2-0.

Hundreds of Yugoslav fans were led out of the Kosevo stadium under police guard after Bosnian fans refused to disperse.

Home fans threw stones and bottles at police outside the stadium.

During the match, Yugoslav supporters chanted the name of Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic, who is wanted on war crimes charges. (Profile)

Hospital sources said the injured included four policemen and four civilians, including two Yugoslavs.

Bosnians had hoped that the game would boost sporting ties after years of ethnic enmity.

"First of all this game is important in competitive terms for both sides as we prepare for our first qualifying matches," Bosnian national team director Ahmet Pasalic told Reuters before the game.

"But apart from that, we also want to boost cooperation with colleagues from Yugoslavia, with whom we have always had a good relationship just like sportsmen should have."

The Bosnian football association had described the match as a "high security risk event" and as a result police presence was heavy.

"From the security point of view, this game will be the most complex event we have had since the end of the war," said Asim Fazlic, head of the Bosnian Football Association's security commission.

The trouble came just days after crowd violence and ethnic tension at a Bosnian premier league match between Celik Zenica, from the Muslim-Croat federation, and Borac Banja Luka from the Serb Republic when home supporters stoned several buses and injured two people.

Despite Wednesday's violence, the turn out of just 13,000 fans in the 36,000-seat stadium was disappointing.

Some said before the match that it was organised prematurely and many had decided to boycott it.

Bosnian fans saw their side lose 2-0 to Yugoslav rivals

The match was the last test for both teams before their qualifying games for the 2004 European championship.

Although tensions have not eased between the neighbours since Bosnia proclaimed independence in 1992, there had been some hope before the match that any differences could be sorted out on the football field.

Muhammed Konjid, one of Bosnia's players, told CNN: "We have a united league in Bosnia and with this match we can maybe forget what happened before."

Yugoslav striker Savo Milosevic, who was born in Bosnia but chose to play for Yugoslavia, said he had expected tension and provocations during the match.

"People haven't forgotten the war, it's all still fresh in their memories. I know this game has a specific meaning," Milosevic said.

One Bosnian fan said: "It's only sport that matters and we hope that politics will not interfere with sport."

A Serb fan added: "It is obvious the two football associations have done more than all politicians."

On the pitch two-goals in the 34th and 42nd minutes were the highlights of a game marked by no less than 19 substitutions in the second half.

"I expected a stronger Bosnian side but with several of their key players missing our victory was never in doubt," Yugoslavia's coach Dejan Savicevic said.

Bosnian coach Blaz Sliskovic said: "Despite the result, which I think is not fair to us, I think we played well."

The game, a warm-up for the European championship qualifiers starting next month.

Bosnia play Romania, Denmark, Norway and Luxembourg in group two of the European qualifiers.

Yugoslavia face Italy, Finland, Wales and Azerbaijan in group nine.