Prime Minister Rishi Sunak released a statement after England fans were reportedly involved in violent clashes at Euro 2024.
Bottles, chairs and tables were hurled into the air by rival groups outside a bar in Gelsenkirchen, where dozens of Serbs were drinking. Some of the thugs had their faces covered during the clashes.
One man, who is understood to be English, was left with blood pouring from a head wound and needed medical attention. Dozens of riot police were on the scene within moments, wielding batons as they arrested seven Serbs.
A German police spokesman said: “There was a confrontation between Serbian and English football fans in the city of Gelsenkirchen. The two fan groups were separated. Seven people were taken into custody. There was also a complaint of grievous bodily harm. The background to this is still unclear.”
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Downing Street said the vast majority of fans were “in good spirits” and UK policing officials were not aware of any Brits having been arrested in relation to the scenes in Gelsenkirchen ahead of England’s opening match. Seven Serbia fans were arrested after clashes ahead of the defeat against England, with videos showing tables, chairs and bottles thrown before riot police arrived.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The vast majority of travelling England fans were in good spirits ahead of the match, but clearly such scenes are unacceptable and do not reflect the spirit of the tournament.” She said currently the UK football policing unit said it does not believe any UK nationals have been arrested “but their inquiries are ongoing and will continue to support the German authorities”.
She added: “There are specialist officers form that unit who are in Germany and working to support German officials in identifying potential troublesome individuals and to ensure that we are supporting… and making sure it is a safe and enjoyable experience for the vast majority of fans.
The spokeswoman said Rishi Sunak was “delighted” with the opening 1-0 win. “He is obviously delighted with a win and with a clean sheet for England’s opening game of the Euros,” she said. “It was a strong start to the tournament against tough opponents, lit up by (Jude) Bellingham’s performance and his thumping header to get the only goal of the game.”
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Asked if the PM will be watching all of England and Scotland ‘s matches in the contest, the spokeswoman said: “He’s a huge football fan, a great supporter of the Euros and I’m sure he will want to catch as much of the tournament as possible and certainly will be supporting Scotland and England.”
The trouble flared a few hundred yards from the city’s main square where earlier in the day English and Serb had mixed happily in the bars and cafes.
Hundreds of armed police rushed to Weberstrasse after a brawl saw tables and chairs thrown. I counted a total of 22 police vans in attendance as officers ran past me toward the station. England fans inside the Post Hornchun pub sang songs as the police ran by. One fan said: “It was nasty but small fight. But it ended up with a chase before the police finally calmed it.”
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Elderly residents watched a bemusement from their flats as the fighting ensued. An English police source however said that the attack was started by England fans attacking Serbs, before they fought back. However, there were conflicting reports on how the trouble started, with suggestions that Albania supporters – in the area after Saturday night’s match in Dortmund against Italy – had sought to attack Serbian fans.
One fan from Birmingham got caught in the middleand blood was pouring from a head wound as he was led away by medics – but was refusing to give police his name.
One Englishman, who asked not to be identified, said a group of men in balaclavas ‘ran around the corner and started throwing bottles.’ He added: ‘I ran away and the next thing I saw was the tables being smashed and chairs being thrown’.
His friend, another Englishman living in Belgrade added: ‘It was premeditated. They threw bottles, I just ran off.’