A total of 20 Croatian supporters were arrested before Tuesday’s UEFA Euro 2016 Group H match between Malta and Croatia, police confirmed with The Malta Independent. Croatia beat Malta 1-0 and qualified for the next stage of the competition, the Euro 2016 finals in France.

Six were arrested on Monday night following a brawl with bouncers of a Paceville establishment. 

On Tuesday, police conducted a search at the temporary residence of another nine Croatians and found objects linked with hooliganism, such a metal rods, a police spokesman said. Nine were arrested.

On Tuesday night, a number of Croatians tried to enter Ta’ Qali national stadium although Croatian fans were prohibited from doing so. Five persons were arrested as the police checked the identities of people entering the stadium.

In a show of force, Police were spotted patrolling the Ta’ Qali area on horseback on Tuesday night.

The MFA said last week that following an agreement with the Croatian FA and Uefa, no Croatian fans were to be allowed into Ta’ Qali National Stadium for the game.

The Croatian FA supported the ban on its own fans in an attempt to prevent incidents that could get the national team thrown out of the competition.

It is not the first time that Croatian supporters were involved in incidents before or during international matches.

A swastika pattern that was carved on the pitch for Croatia’s qualifying match against Italy cost them a one-point penalty in the group phase.

Croatian football association (HNS) press officer Tomislav Pacak had told the Balkan country's media: 'We apologise to all fans watching the game on television, to both teams and to our guests from Italy for the Nazi symbol.”

President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic had said that Croatia had a serious problem with hooligans whose mission it is to discredit not just Croatian football, but the entire country.

In 2005, 103 Croatians were arraigned in court following incidents that occurred during the World Cup Malta-Croatia football match that ended with a 1-1 draw and that was characterised by violent behaviour by Croatian supporters.

96 of the 103 Croatians involved in the incidents pleaded guilty and were sentenced to seven months in prison suspended for two years. Around 500 Croatian supporters had come to Malta to watch the match.

Those present at the National Stadium that day had witnessed an unprecedented event of hooliganism which left 70 people injured, including 16 riot police, three Croatians and a number of Maltese supporters.