Street clashes mar St Petersburg title triumph

Street clashes between die-hard fans and police marred celebrations in Saint Petersburg after the city’s beloved team Zenit won its second Russian league title, reports said Monday.

The clashes broke out late Sunday after 2,000 Zenit St Petersburg fans descended on the city’s famed main street Nevsky Prospekt to fete its 5-0 thrashing of Rostov which assured the team of the league title.

Bottles were thrown at police who then used tear gas to disperse the supporters, Saint Petersburg newsite Fontaka.ru said, adding that 100 supporters had been arrested.

Internet sites showed images of a wounded policeman lying in the street with his head covered in blood. The local police declined to comment.

There had been tensions even on the pitch after the match when Zenit fans broke through a security cordon to invade the field and proceeded to completely dismantle one of the goals.

They then tore up the net into little pieces, ostensibly so each fan could take home a souvenir of the match.

For years an underperforming club with a hardcore following, Zenit has seen its fortunes resurrected thanks to lavish sponsorship from gas giant Gazprom and in 2008 it won the UEFA Cup.