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Spanish soccer fans vandalize Madrid after team loss
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-06-29 10:40
Spanish police said on Wednesday that soccer fans vandalized the streets of the capital, Madrid, after France eliminated Spain from the World Cup with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday.
Spanish soccer fans vandalize Madrid after team loss
A Spain fan reacts after their loss to France at the second round World Cup 2006 soccer match in Hanover June 27, 2006. [Reuters]

The Madrid Chief of Police's Office said on Wednesday that it had arrested 12 people as a result of Tuesday night's vandalism, and that a further 40 people had been reported injured.

Young people had thrown objects, including bottles and sticks, at police; set fire to garbage cans; broken glass in bus stops; and damaged street furniture.

Madrid authorities had installed giant screens in the Colon and Puerta del Sol squares so that fans could watch the game, only to see violence erupt when Spain extended its 22-year-long losing streak against France, who got through to the quarter-finals with this victory.

Television stations said that 14.8 million people had watched the game, or 74.3 percent of Spain's television viewing public.