England fans involved in violent clashes with Spanish police condemned by FA ahead of Spain encounter

A number of England supporters were seen in a video clashing with Spanish police ahead of Monday night’s Nations League match in Seville

Jack de Menezes
Monday 15 October 2018 07:58 EDT
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Heavy police presence in Seville ahead of England's match against Spain

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The Football Association has condemned the “unacceptable behaviour” of a section of England fans in Seville ahead of the Nations League match with Spain after they clashed with police on Sunday night.

Riot police were needed to disperse a number of Englishmen in the late hours of Sunday night, with supporter in the southern Spanish city ahead of Monday night’s fixture at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, home of Real Betis.

With events in Amsterdam earlier this year still fresh in the memory, the FA has issued a strong statement on the incident, and has promised to take action against the individuals involved.

“We condemn the unacceptable behaviour witnessed in Seville,” an FA statement read on Monday.

“With the Spain fixture still to come on Monday night, we urge those following the team to respect our hosts and act in a responsible manner.

“The FA will work in partnership with the UK Football Policing Unit to help identify those involved and we will sanction any England Supporters’ Travel Club member found to be responsible for disorder.”

The clashes come seven months after scores of England supporters were involved in violent clashes with Dutch Police in Amsterdam ahead of the friendly against the Netherlands.

England supporters were involved in overnight clashes with Spanish police
England supporters were involved in overnight clashes with Spanish police (Twitter/casualsportsn)
Individuals were seen holding chairs and walking towards police
Individuals were seen holding chairs and walking towards police (Twitter/@casualsportsn)

Following widespread criticism of English supporter, the FA cracked down on those guilty of hooligan behaviour, and worked with the ESTC to identify and ban a number of individuals. One member who was identified by a video on social media, in which he appeared to throw a bicycle into a canal, is understood to have been given a lifetime ban from matches, while 10 others were given three-year bans,

Another member punished for their actions in Amsterdam remains banned from England games.

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