AMSTERDAM (AP/97.1 The Ticket) — Police in Amsterdam fired a water cannon at football fans "to put out flares and prevent unsafe situations" and carried out charges on horseback ahead of the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal between Ajax and Juventus.
Local broadcaster AT5 showed images of scores of chanting fans being hosed by the water cannon and responding by tossing fireworks and flares at police before mounted officers charged at them followed by riot police. Police later said they arrested more than 30 people.
Earlier Wednesday, police in the Dutch capital arrested a total of 107 Italians suspected of possessing flares, a knife, pepper spray and fireworks.
The night before the match, Ajax fans set off fireworks outside the hotel where the Juventus team was staying, in an attempt to disrupt their sleep. Ajax fans have done this to other teams before.
Juventus and Ajax played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the quarterfinal, with the Italian side earning an all-important away goal ahead of the second leg next week.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
