firecrackers during Bermuda's crunch World Cup clash with El Salvador, according to a news report yesterday.

Bags of urine and human excrement were also hurled on to the pitch -- some landing on spectators' heads.

Sunday's mayhem erupted in the cheapest seating section in Cuscatlan Stadium, tagged "Vietnam.'' Boisterous fans have apparently turned the section into a free-fire zone.

Despite their team romping to a 4-1 victory over Bermuda on Sunday, fans went wild, the Associated Press (AP) agency reports.

One man, a self-appointed caretaker for a group of foreigners, crushed empty beer cans to biscuit size and flung them into the air over the crowd.

He told an AP reporter: "It was pretty calm today. You should be here sometime when we lose.'' When Bermuda took the field, the players were greeted by thousands of fans chanting an obscene Spanish epithet.

Spectators tossed fist-sized chunks of ice and beer cans, some empty, some not.

According to AP, dead cats and iguanas were also flung by their tails into the crowd and onto the field.

And firecrackers the size of a man's arm were tossed from the top of the stands.

Some made it to the field, others fell short, as did large strings of firecrackers hurled at random into the crowd.

Bags of water flew as well, along with empty beer cans and bottles.

Later, as the bags of water gave out, bags of urine were tossed, claims AP.

In addition, small bags of human excrement landed on the field, or on the heads of cheap-seaters who arrived late and sat in the lower rows.

Throughout the match, shouts of "Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo,'' the chant of a student guerrilla group, floated down over the crowd.

To enter the stadium, locals were asked to pay 20 colones, about $2.50 -- approaching the daily minimum wage for a labourer.

And they certainly made sure they got the most for their money.

Regulars say knifings are not uncommon in the Vietnam section, and shootings happen from time to time.

Police stay clear of the area, and foreigners are warned they go at their own risk.