Australia: Soccer Riot in Sidney

Several police officers have been injured and two people charged after about 2,000 World Cup soccer fans descended on a Sydney suburban street following a match last night. Police said a crowd of between 1,500 and 2,000 people spilled from the Italian Forum onto Norton Street, Leichhardt, in Sydney's inner west, after watching a match in which Italy defeated Ecuador 2-0. Brawls broke out amongst the crowd and bottles and fireworks were thrown at the crowd and police officers as a number of vehicles performed burnouts in front of pedestrians, police said. Police called in reinforcements and closed Norton Street out of concern for the welfare of residents.

Henry L. Marconi PRAVDA.Ru Sydney