England and Serbia fans injured in violent clashes ahead of Euro 2024 match
Violent clashes erupted between England and Serbia fans ahead of tonight’s Euro 2024 game in Germany.
Rival supporters launched chairs, tables and glasses at each other in ugly scenes in the western city of Gelsenkirchen.
Footage showed riot police attempting to put a stop to the fighting while men continued to attack each other.
Conflicting reports have been emerging since the incident over whether or not English fans were actually involved.
Local police in Gelsenkirchen have now confirmed they were – and one man, thought to be from Birmingham, suffered a wound to the head, while others were also visibly hurt.
A police spokesman said: ‘It was an altercation between English and Serbian fans, who were separated by the police.
‘Further measures are underway and the background is currently being clarified.’
The UK football policing unit, which has travelled out to Germany to assist, also said only Serbian nationals have been arrested so far following the brawl.
A spokesman told Sky: ‘We are aware of an issue in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the England v Serbia match.
‘Our German colleagues have made a number of arrests of what we currently believe to be Serbian supporters.
‘At this stage we do not believe that any UK nationals have been arrested but enquiries are ongoing.
‘Our officers are at the location speaking to German colleagues. Our investigation team is now reviewing footage of the incident and if any UK nationals have been involved, football banning orders will be sought.’
A football fan, thought to be English, was injured and treated for a head wound following the violent clashes (Picture: Story Picture Agency)
Football fans were injured as they clashed in Gelsenkirchen (Picture: Story Picture Agency)
In one video, a man hiding behind a car on the opposite side of the road could be heard shouting in English and stoking the fire.
‘It’s the Serbians! Go go go! ‘F****ng hell, they are doing them,’ he yells.
There have been fears of violence escalating as more than 500,000 England fans are expected to descend on Germany throughout the next month.
The incident happened after 3.30pm local time outside Aleppo bar in the centre of Gelsenkirchen.
Police officers secure the area after clashes between fans ahead of the match (Picture: Reuters)
Eyewitnesses said ‘everything you can imagine’ was hurled at the tens of Serbia supporters.
Footage shared on X shows a crowd throwing multiple chairs and glasses at men sitting outside the bar.
It is understood that as many as 200 riot police were deployed to the scene to break up the clashes.
A young man wearing a chequered pair of shorts and a black T-shirt is drenched in blood.
His face is covered in red from cuts to his head and forehead. It is yet unclear if anyone was seriously injured.
Another video showed a man being arrested, with his hands tied behind his back with cable ties, and then taken to a police van nearby.
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