"We are doing our best to be a good host all these days, however, a group of hooligans have been intentionally causing incidents in an attempt to ruin the fantastic atmosphere during and after matches. They assaulted Croatian fans at several locations. Such behaviour is an attack on the city of Novi Sad," the mayor said, adding that those incidents would not harm the relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The 2012 EHF European Men's Handball Championship is being held in Serbia on January 15–29 in the cities of Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad and Vrsac.

On Tuesday evening several Croatians were injured and dizens of cars with Croatian licence plates were damaged throughout Novi Sad.

Mayor Pavlicic today apologised to citizens of Croatia and called on them to arrive in Novi Sad in great numbers and be the guests of that largest city in the province of Vojvodina.

After the match between Croatia and France, Croatian supporters were exposed to a series of serious and organised attacks in Novi Sad and Ruma. One of the Croatian fans was stabbed and admitted to hospital in Novi Sad. This gravest incident occurred in Ruma at a gas station where a Croatian van was set on fire.

Shortly before that, in a Novi Sad suburb, a line of Croatian fans' cars was stoned by about 50 masked youths, one of whom used an axe. Several Croatians were injured and one was hospitalised.

Serbian Police Director Milorad Veljovic last night apologised to the Croatian fans assaulted.

Croatia's Foreign and European Affairs Ministry on Wednesday forwarded a protest note to Serbia's Ambassador in Zagreb, Stanimir Vukicevic, over incidents in which Croatian handball fans were injured. Ambassador Vukicevic expressed regret at the incidents and informed Zagreb that the Serbian authorities had so far arrested six assaulters.

Several assaulters have been arrested so far.