Netherlands vs Costa Rica: Best World Cup performance marred as three Costa Rican fans stabbed at match screening in country's capital

An estimated 1,000 people had gathered in San Jose's Democracy Square to watch the quarter-final tie

Three Costa Rican fans were stabbed and several others arrested when a mass brawl erupted during the screening of their quarter-final match against the Netherlands in the country’s capital last night.

As the Costa Rican team fought bravely but eventually lost out on penalties to the Dutch in Salvador, in San Jose’s Democracy Square there was scenes of violence and hostility as a fight broke out between two groups of fans.

Images taken just after the incident show some fans fighting with police, while others show bloodied men being treated by doctors.

One man is even pictured with a knife sticking directly out of his back.

The reasons behind the brawl are unknown but it is believed that heavy drinking could have had some part to play.

After police were able to stop the violence from spreading, a hastily put together human barrier was arranged to ensure that those that had been injured could be treated.

La Nacion, Costa Rica’s largest newspaper, confirmed that two men had been stabbed, while another one had been cut by a shard of glass.

According to reports, San Jose’s Democracy Square was a scene of good nature before the violence broke out, with an estimated 1,000 Costa Ricans celebrating their country’s best performance ever in a World Cup.