BUCHAREST: Rising violence amongst Romanian soccer fans has spawned a new phenomenon in the country's post-communist sport the gun-carrying soccer star. No longer content to confine their rage to smashing buses and shop windows or setting fire to stadium seats, supporters have turned their fury towards the teams.

In the Black Sea Port of Constanta, after the local side were beaten 1-0 by National Bucharest, a frenzied fan began punching National's Stelian Carabas near the dressing-room. The assault came to an end when team mate Gheorghe Butoiu thrust a 9mm pistol into the attacker's face.

Pro soccer can cause brain injury: study

SAN FRANCISCO: Professional soccer players, who frequently head the ball or collide with other players on the field, may risk long-term brain injury, according to a study released yesterday.

``The mental impairment of the players is subtle and would go unnoticed by many people,'' researcher Barry Jordan ofthe University of California at Los Angeles said. ``However, this type of long-term, cumulative brain injury may last forever.''