An AP report from Zagreb said yesterday that Croatian police had launched a crack down on soccer hooligans who devastated the Ta’ Qali stadium and injured fans and security officers on Wednesday.

It said the rioting also caused several cuts and bruises to opposing fans and security officers.

Croatian police immediately promised to help identify and prosecute Wednesday’s offenders, police spokesman Zlatko Mehun said.

“We expressed our dismay and regret at the incident, and we have offered to do our utmost to punish the offenders, who will face Maltese sanctions,” Mehun said.

He said Croatian police would check whether any of the rioters were known offenders, in which case other measures such as match bans would be pursued.