May 27 – Violence broke out in Leipzig, Germany, on the eve of the UEFA Conference League final after Crystal Palace supporters were targeted in an organised attack in the city centre ahead of tonight’s clash with Rayo Vallecano.
According to reports trouble flared on Tuesday evening as Palace fans gathered outside bars in the German city to celebrate the club’s first major European final. Videos circulating on social media showed a group of men, many dressed in black, charging towards the English supporters before hurling chairs and glassware into the crowd.
The confrontation quickly escalated, with travelling Palace fans forced to take cover as disorder spread across the square. Some supporters were seen responding by throwing objects back at the attackers, leading to brief hand-to-hand clashes before police in riot gear intervened.
German authorities moved rapidly to contain the situation, reportedly surrounding a group of around 50 to 60 individuals believed to have been involved in the violence. The identity of the attackers has not been confirmed, although speculation has centred on possible links to either Rayo Vallecano ultras or supporters of local side Lokomotive Leipzig, whose fan groups have previously been associated with similar violence.
The disorder comes at the end of a turbulent European campaign for Palace. The club initially qualified for the Europa League after lifting the FA Cup last season, only for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to uphold UEFA’s decision to remove them from the competition under multi-club ownership regulations, paving the way for Nottingham Forest to take their place.
Oliver Glasner’s side regrouped in the Conference League and battled through a demanding route to Leipzig, finishing 10th in the league phase before eliminating Zrinjski Mostar, AEK Larnaca, Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk to reach the final.
With Glasner’s departure already announced, the final will be the curtain call on a successful stint in South London.
The incident has overshadowed what is otherwise a landmark occasion for Palace, who are bidding to secure the first major European trophy in the club’s history this evening. Victory would make them the third consecutive English club to lift the Conference League trophy after West Ham United and Chelsea.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]
Crystal Palace fans attacked ahead of Conference League final in Leipzig
May 27 – Violence broke out in Leipzig, Germany, on the eve of the UEFA Conference League final after Crystal Palace supporters were targeted in an organised attack in the city centre ahead of tonight’s clash with Rayo Vallecano.
According to reports trouble flared on Tuesday evening as Palace fans gathered outside bars in the German city to celebrate the club’s first major European final. Videos circulating on social media showed a group of men, many dressed in black, charging towards the English supporters before hurling chairs and glassware into the crowd.
The confrontation quickly escalated, with travelling Palace fans forced to take cover as disorder spread across the square. Some supporters were seen responding by throwing objects back at the attackers, leading to brief hand-to-hand clashes before police in riot gear intervened.
German authorities moved rapidly to contain the situation, reportedly surrounding a group of around 50 to 60 individuals believed to have been involved in the violence. The identity of the attackers has not been confirmed, although speculation has centred on possible links to either Rayo Vallecano ultras or supporters of local side Lokomotive Leipzig, whose fan groups have previously been associated with similar violence.
The disorder comes at the end of a turbulent European campaign for Palace. The club initially qualified for the Europa League after lifting the FA Cup last season, only for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to uphold UEFA’s decision to remove them from the competition under multi-club ownership regulations, paving the way for Nottingham Forest to take their place.
Oliver Glasner’s side regrouped in the Conference League and battled through a demanding route to Leipzig, finishing 10th in the league phase before eliminating Zrinjski Mostar, AEK Larnaca, Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk to reach the final.
With Glasner’s departure already announced, the final will be the curtain call on a successful stint in South London.
The incident has overshadowed what is otherwise a landmark occasion for Palace, who are bidding to secure the first major European trophy in the club’s history this evening. Victory would make them the third consecutive English club to lift the Conference League trophy after West Ham United and Chelsea.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]