An outbreak of fan violence following a football match in St Gallen on Tuesday has raised fears that clashes could mar next month's European football championships.

Hundreds of fans of FC St Gallen went on the rampage after their club lost 2-0 to Bellinzona. The loss relegated the local team to the second division.

Aggressive spectators threw objects at police and security guards who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, before allowing the crowd to access the pitch.

Some fans destroyed one of the goals and tore away seats at the stadium, and clashed again with police in the city centre.

Around 60 people were arrested and seven police and security personnel suffered minor injuries.

It was the third time this month that violence had broken out at a game between teams in Switzerland's top division.

However, the Swiss authorities have said they expect to be able to keep fans in check at the matches of the Euro 2008, co-hosted with Austria.

They insist the European championships, which begin next month, will draw a different public from that attending Swiss league matches.

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