Police temporarily detain 8 after clash between Serbia and England fans before opening match
Police say eight people were temporarily detained following a brawl between Serbia and England fans in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the two countries’ opening European Championship match
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Eight people were temporarily detained following a brawl between Serbia and England fans in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the two countries' opening European Championship match, police said Monday.
Authorities said the incident on Sunday was over quickly and that they were satisfied overall with the security operation surrounding the match, which was classified as high risk by police over concerns about potential fan violence. Both sets of supporters have a reputation for causing trouble before and during matches.
In what police described as the only notable clash, social media footage showed men throwing chairs at each other outside a restaurant festooned with Serbian flags. Police said a group of Serbia fans was eating inside when a large group of England fans tried to get in.
Reporters who arrived shortly afterward found the street littered with broken glass and tables as several dozen police officers stood by.
Seven Serbia supporters and one England fan were detained after the brawl and missed the match, senior Gelsenkirchen police official Peter Both told reporters. He said one fan went to a hospital with a head injury, but discharged himself to watch the game. Officials were not aware of anyone else being hurt.
Both said the detained fans were released during the night, but police are in contact with UEFA and would recommend them being barred from upcoming matches.
Police in the area have longstanding experience with one of Germany's highest-risk matches, the derby between Gelsenkirchen-based Schalke — currently in the second division — and rival Borussia Dortmund.
___
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.