Three more stabbed in Copenhagen

Flashpoint: Fans clash in Copenhagen city centre

Three more fans have been stabbed in violence between Arsenal and Galatasaray fans in Copenhagen.

The men - one British, one Turkish and one Dutch - bring to four the number stabbed in pre-match clashes.

Other fans received serious head and facial wounds and several more were treated for minor injuries.

We deplore and condemn all those who have involved in violent behaviour

FA's David Davies

The situation is now calm as thousands of Danish police patrol the city after the Uefa Cup final - won by the Turkish side on penalties after the match finished 0-0.

The match passed peacefully after two outbreaks of violence. On Tuesday night an Arsenal fan was stabbed in the back, though he is now out of hospital.

Central Copenhagen is reported to be quiet, but the atmosphere remains tense as Turkish fans celebrate.

Thousands of fans from both sides are expected to drink in the city centre until the early hours and police are standing by.

Earlier on Wednesday bottles, chairs and tables from roadside bars and restaurants were thrown as isolated one-on-one fights developed quickly into running battles.

Thousands of Danish police officers eventually brought the violence under control with tear gas. News of the further stabbings did not emerge until the final got under way.

Chairs were used as weapons

A spokeswoman from the city's Rigshospital said the Dutchman had suffered stab wounds to his stomach, damaging his liver.

Another patient had facial injuries and a partially-severed ear, while a fourth had a broken ankle.

The British Embassy confirmed that a Briton had been seriously injured after being attacked with an iron bar.

BBC correspondent Jon Kay described the scenes as "anarchy".

And Copenhagen's head of police, Mogens Lauridsen, said he had "never seen anything like this" in the city.

I thought I was going to die

Paul Dineen

Football Association executive director David Davies has condemned the violence.

He said the FA had done "everything in our power to achieve a low-key build-up to the match".

And he pledged to "redouble efforts in terms of our safety and security preparations for Euro 2000 if it is possible for us to do".

He added: "Let us make it very clear that we deplore and condemn all those - be they Turkish or English - who have involved themselves in violent behaviour over recent hours."

One Arsenal fan caught up in the city centre fights told BBC News 24: "It's a great shame that we have to suffer this sort of abuse and violence."

The fan who was stabbed on Tuesday night, Paul Dineen, 41, left hospital on Wednesday.

He said doctors had told him he had missed death by an inch.

An injured Arsenal fan is taken to hospital

"There was pandemonium going on, bottles, glasses and bicycles being thrown around, and suddenly I felt what I thought was a punch in the back.

"Then I felt liquid - blood - and fell to the ground. I was in unbearable pain as my friends helped me, and I thought I was going to die.

"I don't know if it hit my lung but I was told I was one inch away from death."

Seven arrests have been been made following Tuesday night's violence.

Tension between English and Turkish fans has been growing since last month, when two Leeds United supporters were killed in Istanbul before the semi-final.