A general view of the Smoking Dog pub in Lyon, where a group of up to 50 masked thugs attacked the bar packed with Tottenham Hotspur supporters before their team's game in the French city tonight. Picture: Paul Hirst/PA Wire

Three men have been arrested in connection with an alleged attack on a bar packed with English football fans in Lyon.

Three fans were injured in the pub attack. Picture: Paul Hirst/PA Wire

Tottenham Hotspur supporters said around 50 masked men, some reportedly making Nazi salutes, smashed doors and threw chairs, wooden objects and a flare into the Smoking Dog pub where up to 150 people had gathered ahead of last night Europa League tie against the French side.

Rhone police prefect Jean-Pierre Cazenave-Lacrouts told Sky News that officers have detained three Frenchmen, including one who is a member of a far-right organisation, and two fans of Lyon.

Tottenham Hotspur said club officials attended the incident where three of their fans sustained “minor injuries”.

Eyewitnesses inside the pub, popular with ex-pats, said the thugs attacked the bar at 10.20pm on Wednesday night and then returned shortly after to launch another assault, which was damaged extensively as a result.

It is the second time that Tottenham fans have been targeted by an apparent anti-Semitic attack in the last three months.

In November fans of the north London club, which has a traditionally strong Jewish following, were ambushed inside a pub in Rome on the eve of their game against Lazio.

Tottenham and its supporters will return to Italy next month for a clash against Inter Milan after drawing last night’s Europa League match 1-1, and winning 3-2 on aggregate.