COPENHAGEN, Dec 13: A Danish court has jailed two British Arsenal soccer fans for street violence against Turkish Galatasaray supporters before last year’s UEFA Cup final.

The two 24-year-old supporters, who were given prison sentences of four and five months respectively and five year bans on visiting Denmark, are considering making an appeal, their lawyer told Danish media on Thursday. The Britons were sentenced on the evidence of television footage showing them fighting Turkish supporters in a central Copenhagen square on May 17, 2000, the day of the match.

Nineteen people were injured, 42 were arrested and extensive damage was done to restaurants and shops as fans of both finalists fought in the streets.

Galatasaray beat Arsenal 4-1 on penalties in the final to become the first Turkish side to win a European club trophy.

Another Briton facing charges failed to appear at the Copenhagen court and the Danish authorities are to request help from Britain so that he can attend a later hearing.

Two Turkish supporters, resident in Denmark, have received sentences for street violence in connection with the match and two more English fans are to go before the Copenhagen court on the same charges next Monday.—Reuters