BUCHAREST, April 9: Three fans were hospitalised on Sunday after dozens of fans clashed in downtown Bucharest ahead of a match between city rivals Dinamo and Steaua. Two of the injured fans were in critical condition at an emergency hospital in the city, PRO television reported.

Romanian soccer has been marred by fans' violence in recent years, with the three top clubs here the worst offenders.

Steaua, Dinamo and Rapid have been punished repeatedly by soccer authorities for failing to control their fans, who regularly devastate stadiums and chant racist slogans and obscenities.

Dinamo were sentenced to play two games behind closed doors after their fans clashed with police last week in the Black Sea city of Constanta. That sentence was later reduced to one game, enabling fans to watch the traditional city derby against rival Steaua.—AP