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Thirty hurt in Bangladesh as fans riot after TV blackout

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DHAKA (Reuters) -- At least 30 people were injured when disgruntled soccer fans attacked several power distribution centres and vandalised at least 20 vehicles in Bangladesh after a power outage led to a television World Cup blackout.

Fans in the capital Dhaka were unable to watch Saturday's match between Argentina and Nigeria.

"Much damage was caused at Sayedabad power distribution sub-centre while others were outwardly damaged as stick-wielding and stone-throwing youths went on the rampage at different spots whenever there was blackout in the city," a police officer said.

Hundreds of police brought the situation under control. "We did not force because that could have flared up the situation," he said.

Bangladesh are rated 157th in the FIFA world rankings but football is very popular in the south Asian country where flags of leading countries have been hoisted during the World Cup.

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