Two Northern Ireland football fans were taken to hospital last night after trouble flared in Slovakia ahead of today's world cup qualification match between the two countries.

Supporters claim they were attacked by a group of 12 local men, believed to be from a security firm.

The fans were reportedly beaten with batons and knuckle dusters by the men in the Dubliner pub.

IFA's Howard Wells said: "From what I can gather it was an unprovoked attack, which is not good.

"Normally when our fans travel they're as good as gold everywhere."

A spokesman for the British Embassy has confirmed that Slovakian police are investigating the incident.

Portadown Northern Ireland Supporters Club secretary Kyle Quinn told the BBC: "I could see a couple of guys just lying prostrate on the ground and one guy in particular was lying over this guy who was obviously out cold.

"These guys were just laying into them. There was one baseball bat. And there was another fellow I saw with a white tee-shirt and a pink collar - he seem to get attacked with, I think, a knuckle-duster."