Policeman hurt in clashes with hooligans recovering from injuries

A policeman who suffered serious injuries in a clash with violent soccer fans is recovering and is not expected to have any permanent damage, police said Monday.

The officer was delivered to a local hospital with a broken lumbar vertebrae during Saturday's Bundesliga game between Bochum and visiting Karlsruhe.

Police are still trying to determine whether the policeman was injured in a fall or by violent Karlsruhe fans.

Another policeman received several blows and kicks in the body and his head after falling to the ground. He and another lightly injured policemen have been released from the hospital.

Karlsruhe fans were tossed from the stadium just before kickoff for fighting and outside were joined by 100 hooligans. Together they tried to crash the stadium gates, overwhelming security personnel.

Police clashes with hooligans happen on a regular basis in Germany, but its rare an officer is seriously injured.