updated 1:13 p.m. ET March 27, 2007

ATHENS, Greece - Four men have been arrested on the island of Crete after part of a man’s ear was bitten off during a brawl after Greece’s 4-1 loss to Turkey in a European Championship qualifier.

The incident occurred Saturday near the town of Ierapetra during a fight between Bulgarian workers and local Greek men who had been watching the match on television, police said Tuesday.

Local businessman Dimitris Tsimbibakis was hospitalized after a man bit his ear. He told authorities he had intervened to try and break up the fight but was beaten by four Bulgarian men.

The fight apparently started after the Bulgarian men cheered Turkey’s goals.

Greece travels to Malta on Thursday, while Turkey hosts Norway in Group C.

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