Eight Amsterdam police officers have been taken to hospital after clashes with football hooligans in town for tonight’s key Champions League match between Ajax and Scottish club Celtic.

A police spokesman told news agency ANP a number of Scottish supporters attacked the police with bottles and sticks. One officer was knocked unconscious. All eight were treated in hospital for their injuries, mainly involving stitches for head wounds.

At least 15 people, both Ajax and Celtic supporters were arrested after riot police made several charges to drive several hundred hooligans from Dam square in the city centre.

According to ANP it is unclear if the troublemakers were aware they were attacking police officers.

‘However, they were trying to get into a police bus when they were attacked,’ the spokesman is quoted as saying.