A policeman was fighting for his life late last night after he was attacked by German football fans in Lens for the German-Yugoslavia match.

"He was the victim of an extremely violent attack and has severe concussion," said a hospital spokesman. "His life is in danger."

"It is difficult to say whether his condition is going to change rapidly. We cannot give a short-term assessment," the spokesman added.

The 44-year-old policeman, a father of two, was given emergency treatment on the spot before being flown by helicopter to a hospital in Lille.

Witnesses identified his attacker, who was arrested.

The officer was injured when about 50 German hooligans attacked four policemen behind a security barrier.

They knocked him over with a blunt object, said Jean-Noel Humbert, the director of the Pas-de-Calais prefect's office.

The arrested fan then kicked the officer while he was on the ground.

A Brazilian journalist was also attacked by German fans but there was no information on his condition.

On a day when violence marred the World Cup for the second time, after a group of English hooligans rioted in Marseille last week, 96 fans were arrested, the Pas de Calais prefect's office said.

The French interior ministry said 93 German fans had violently provoked security forces.

French Interior Minister JeanPierre Chevenement earlier signed 11 urgent deportation orders for seven Germans as well as four English fans arrested in Toulouse.