TEHRAN, May 4 (Reuters) - Iranian police expelled a group of soccer fans who were chanting anti-Saudi slogans during an Asian Champions League match, the website of state English-language television Press TV reported on Wednesday.
Tensions have mounted between the two regional powers since Saudi Arabia deployed military forces to help the government of Bahrain quell protests inspired by Arab revolts elsewhere.
Mainly Shi'ite Iranians have expressed sympathy with Shi'ite demonstrators in Bahrain, where Sunni Muslim rulers sought aid from Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-ruled states to stop protests.
Iran police expelled a number of fans from Tehran's Azadi Stadium after they started to chant slogans against the Saudi government during a match between Tehran's Piroozi and the Saudi Al Ittihad on Tuesday, Press TV reported.
"The protesters, who carried the Saudi and Bahraini flags, were expelled from the stadium by police ... in fear of the possibility of flag burning," said the report.
The semi-official Fars news agency said police arrested some of the protesters.
A hardline lawmaker, Mohammad-Karim Abedi, criticised police for what he called their "violent approach against the revolutionary youth" and said parliament would follow up the case.
Relations between Iran, an enemy of the United States, and the Saudi monarchy, which has close economic and military ties with Washington, have often been strained. Riyadh has urged Tehran to protect Saudi diplomats after Iranian protesters broke windows at a Saudi consulate during a demonstration in March.
Gulf Arab states have accused non-Arab Iran of interfering in their internal matters, including in Bahrain, where Shi'ites form at least 60 percent of the population of around 600,000, but a Sunni family holds power.
Tehran denies it has fomented unrest in Bahrain.
Tensions have mounted between the two regional powers since Saudi Arabia deployed military forces to help the government of Bahrain quell protests inspired by Arab revolts elsewhere.
Mainly Shi'ite Iranians have expressed sympathy with Shi'ite demonstrators in Bahrain, where Sunni Muslim rulers sought aid from Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-ruled states to stop protests.
Iran police expelled a number of fans from Tehran's Azadi Stadium after they started to chant slogans against the Saudi government during a match between Tehran's Piroozi and the Saudi Al Ittihad on Tuesday, Press TV reported.
"The protesters, who carried the Saudi and Bahraini flags, were expelled from the stadium by police ... in fear of the possibility of flag burning," said the report.
The semi-official Fars news agency said police arrested some of the protesters.
A hardline lawmaker, Mohammad-Karim Abedi, criticised police for what he called their "violent approach against the revolutionary youth" and said parliament would follow up the case.
Relations between Iran, an enemy of the United States, and the Saudi monarchy, which has close economic and military ties with Washington, have often been strained. Riyadh has urged Tehran to protect Saudi diplomats after Iranian protesters broke windows at a Saudi consulate during a demonstration in March.
Gulf Arab states have accused non-Arab Iran of interfering in their internal matters, including in Bahrain, where Shi'ites form at least 60 percent of the population of around 600,000, but a Sunni family holds power.
Tehran denies it has fomented unrest in Bahrain.
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