Manchester United and Tottenham fans have been involved in a violent brawl in the streets of Spain just hours before the Europa League final
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Fans were seen brawling in Bilbao on the eve of the Europa League final
Fans were seen brawling in Bilbao on the eve of the Europa League final
Footage of a fracas between fans in Spain, ahead of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham on Wednesday night, has been widely shared on social media.
The two Premier League teams have the opportunity to redeem their disappointing domestic seasons when they face off at Athletic Bilbao's home ground tonight. A spot in next season's Champions League is also up for grabs, with tens of thousands of fans from both clubs travelling to Spain for the crucial match.
However, amidst the generally friendly interactions in Bilbao, shocking footage of a brawl in nearby San Sebastian, where fans were seen throwing punches and objects at each other, has emerged.
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The skirmish, which took place on the eve of the final, was widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter). The Sun reports that authorities were called to a disturbance around 9.20pm after violent behaviour was observed on Fermín Calbetón Street.
Eyewitnesses allege that tensions escalated after two opposing groups of supporters began trading insults. The situation quickly deteriorated, with fans throwing punches and objects, including a wheelie bin and drinks.
One individual even overturned a table in an attempt to use it as a weapon before order was restored by the police.
No arrests were made despite ugly scenes on the streets of San Sebastian
The report further states that no arrests were made, although police maintained a presence in the area. An ambulance was reportedly on standby, with 'several people' receiving treatment at the scene, but no one required hospitalisation.
Tens of thousands of Brits have journeyed to Spain to back their teams, despite sky-high flight costs and a scarcity of available lodgings in the Basque region. The majority have conducted themselves well, with no significant disruptions before the incident in San Sebastian.
It's estimated that thousands of supporters have made the trip without tickets for both teams' second-to-last match of the season.
Supporters of both Manchester United and Spurs have witnessed their respective teams suffer disastrous seasons in the Premier League, where they currently sit 16th and 17th respectively, having lost a combined total of 39 matches. The victor of Wednesday night's match could become the lowest-ranked team ever to win a European trophy, a record currently held by West Ham, who finished 14th the year they secured the Europa Conference League.