Munich police on Sunday warned of a "new dimension of violence" by fans after 16 officers were injured and more than 60 supporters detained before Bayern Munich's match at the weekend.
Having been crowned German champions for the 23rd time last weekend, Bayern enjoyed a 4-0 win over Nuremberg on Saturday at Munich's Allianz Arena.
But the victory was overshadowed by violent clashes between rival fans.
With Bayern having reached the Champions League semi-finals, and bidding to become the first German team to win the treble of European, cup and league titles, the violence is an unwanted distraction from the success on the pitch.
"We are shocked and disappointed about what happened before the Nuremberg game," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Munich newspaper AZ on Sunday after the clashes between rival 'ultra' -- hooligan -- fans.
"There is no excuse for the behaviour of these ultra fans.
"We are disappointed that such a thing can happen when we are enjoying so much success."
According to reports, a group of 400 Nuremberg fans was attacked by 120 Bayern fans en route to the stadium before the away fans then turned on police, using stones and bottles, resulting in 16 officers being injured.
In all, 61 fans were detained -- 31 from Munich and 30 Nuremberg supporters -- and questioned over offences ranging from assault and resisting arrest to breach of the peace.
Weapons, including knuckle dusters, were also confiscated.
"We have seen a new dimension of violence against police officers in Munich," said the city's Deputy Police chief Robert Kopp in a statement.
"We have not seen such high-levels of violence and brutality against deployed police officers at a football match in Munich for a number of years.
"But we want to thank all those fans who went to yesterday's match to watch football in a peaceful, sporting manner.
"That is what we want in football."
Source: AFP
