The city of Genoa in northern Italy was ablaze with violence and unrest Tuesday as thousands acted out in anger over the demotion of the city's soccer club to the third division.

Fans set fires, turned over cars and motorcycles, assaulted photographers and ruined one of the city centre's newly restored streets, via Balbi. Five police officers were reported injured in the melee.

With the possibility of more protests in the next few days, local police took control of ferry terminals and train stations to try and gain control of the situation.

Italian police officers walk past burning rubbish bins after clashes broke out with soccer fans in Genoa. (AP File Photo)

Many of the protesters wore masks, but roughly 30 suspects had been identified, the Apcom news agency reported.

Police are hunting for those responsible for starting the riots.

Tuesday's acts of violence were in response to the confirmation of Genoa being relegated to Italian soccer's third division.

Last month, Italian soccer officials demoted Genoa after discovering evidence of the club's involvement in a match-fixing scheme.

The league's disciplinary commission uncovered a $301,700 US payment from Genoa to their opponents Venezia before the final Serie B – second division – game of the season on June 11.

The commission also said telephone taps illustrated the payment went towards 'guaranteeing' Genoa a win.

Genoa defeated Venezia to finish first place in Serie B and secure its promotion to Serie A – Italy's first division – after a ten-year absence.

The top two teams in the Serie B standings at the end of the season are automatically promoted to Italy's top division, while the bottom-three clubs are relegated to the third division.

At the time of the game, Venezia was in second-last place and already relegated to Serie C1.

Club president Enrico Preziosi and general manager Stefano Capozucca were handed five-year bans on Wednesday. Genoa said in a statement that Preziosi had resigned.

Francesco Dal Cin, managing director of Venezia was also given a five-year ban.

Martin Lejsal and Massimo Borgobello, players with Venezia last season, were given bans of five and six months, respectively.

Genoa will begin next season with a three-point penalty.