Fans arrested after clashes before Conference League final as police arrested 28 fans in the Polish city of Wroclaw.
28 fans arrested after clashes between Chelsea and Real Betis fans before the Uefa Conference League final.
Police swiftly broke up a brawl between hundreds of fans in Wroclaw Market Square on Wednesday afternoon.
It was confirmed by Wroclaw City Hall that a water cannon was on “standby as a precautionary measure” but that “the situation did not escalate to a level that required their deployment” despite initial reports to the contrary.
“The strong and visible presence of police, including British liaison officers and negotiators, was effective in de-escalating tensions,” it stated.
According to the local government, “order has since been maintained across the city” and there were no more problems recorded during the game at the Stadion Wroclaw, which drew 41,000 spectators. Meanwhile, 5,500 people watched from a fan zone in the city.
Including those who purchased tickets as well as those who attended fan zones and other events throughout the city, an estimated 70,000 fans travelled to the city in the southwest of Poland for the final.
On the night, Chelsea defeated the opposition 4-1 in the third-tier European competition.