Crystal Palace’s trip to Florence may have started with police in riot gear and monuments given extra protection, but it ended with their players dancing on the streets with their fans.
Firenze Viola and Fiorentina News report on the Crystal Palace contingent in Florence today. Any fear of trouble was washed away with a party atmosphere through the night.
Firenze Viola kick things off, reporting that ‘celebrations erupted’ in the Crystal Palace camp as they progressed to the semi-finals.
That success, their first ever, sparked festivities in both London and Florence. The latter includes Crystal Palace players, who were given the night off by Oliver Glasner.
Consequently, as shown in various videos on social media, Dean Henderson, Yeremy Pino and other Eagles players ‘took to the streets’ in central Florence to celebrate. The trio even joined in with fans they encountered along the way.
In the video below, they can be seen singing in Piazza Strozzi.
Fiorentina News, meanwhile, report that Crystal Palace players ‘immediately flocked’ to the centre of Florence to join in celebrations.
According to the outlet, ‘dancing, chanting and revelry’ filled the streets of the Tuscan capital later into the night. There are, at this point, no reported clashes between fans or any incidents whatsoever.
Crystal Palace fans have not only behaved but made a very positive impression on their Italian hosts.
Italian overreaction unnecessary
Sport Witness reported yesterday that Florence had essentially gone into lockdown before the arrival of Crystal Palace’s travelling contingent.
Police were put in riot gear, monuments were locked down and alcohol sales were limited to ensure there was no trouble. By the middle of yesterday afternoon, that all appeared to be a major overreaction.
Rather than any trouble, police were reporting ‘no disturbances whatsoever’ while Crystal Palace fans milled around the streets in shirts, scarves and whatever else. There was no hint of trouble whatsoever.
That appears to have continued into the night. Their progression to a European semi-final led to parties in the streets, rather than fighting, and made a further mockery of the extreme lengths Florence went to this week.