The celebration of the title of champion of Portugal, which Benfica won for the 34th time yesterday, turned into a conflict between the police and the fans in which several people were injured, the local police said.
Benfica won the title after playing away to a draw against Vitoria Guimaraes (0:0). At the same time, their closest competitor in the title race, Porto, drew against Belenenses (1:1).
This is the first time in 31 years that Benfica has defended the title, and the third time that it has won it under the coach Georges Jesus.
Fans flooded the streets of Lisbon, including Marques de Plombal Square, to celebrate the trophy, but violence culminated after midnight when rival groups began hurling bottles, stones and other objects at police who tried to restore order with batons.
"It was chaos, I felt like I was in a cowboy movie. I've never seen anything like this," said one of Rui Trinidad's fans.
Similar incidents happened at the stadium in Guimaraes.
Television broadcast footage showing a Benfica fan, 43-year-old Jose Magalaes, being beaten by police officers in front of his children.
Portugal's interior ministry said it had launched an investigation into the incidents, which were condemned by Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira.
"We have to find out if there was excessive use of force by the police," Vijeira said.
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