Around 50 Vitesse Arnhem fans were taken ill on their way home the weekend football match at De Graafschap, apparently after inhaling smoke from flares.

The supporters developed symptoms including vomiting, headaches and dizziness while they were travelling back to Arnhem by coach on Sunday from the Keuken Kampioen Divisie game in Doetinchem, 40km away.

Ten ambulances were on standby at the Gelredome stadium when the buses arrived. Three people were taken to hospital, while the rest were able to go home after being treated by paramedics.

A spokesman for the regional health board said the fans appeared to have inhaled smoke from “several smoke bombs that were thrown into the away end by De Graafschap supporters”.

Ten people fell ill in the stadium in Doetinchem, while none of the drivers of the six coaches showed any symptoms, the spokesman said: “That’s why we think it may be related to the smoke bombs in the stadium.”

Police did not rule out an investigation into the incident, but said it would be difficult to establish which, if any smoke bombs, were responsible. Vitesse supporters also let off fireworks during the match, a spokesman pointed out.

“The suspicion is that people in the away end were exposed to more smoke because of the wind. Over the next few days we will look at whether additional inquiries are needed.”