Police in Germany have ordered 60 Crystal Palace fans described as ‘known troublemakers’ to leave Leipzig city centre after clashes before the Conference League final.
According to a statement made by the police force on Wednesday morning – after videos had circulated on social media – at about 8pm on Tuesday, ‘around 300 Rayo Vallecano fans, considered to be at high risk of hooliganism’ were gathered in the city centre.
Clashes broke out with Palace fans sat outdoors, as ‘bottles, beer glasses, and pub furniture were thrown at each other (and) physical altercations also occurred’, according to police.
Officers intervened to separate the two groups and were ‘attacked by both sets of fans’, primarily through the throwing of objects, but, claimed the statement, ‘a group of known troublemakers from Crystal Palace advanced to the area of the Penguin Ice Bar.
‘The approximately 60 individuals provoked passing Spanish fans and were promptly surrounded by federal police.’
Violent clashes erupted between rival fans ahead of the Conference League final in Leipzig
An investigation was subsequently launched on suspicion of breach of the peace, with processing lines set up ‘to search all identified troublemakers and now suspects’.
An announcement, read in English to those held, said the group were as a result subject to police control measures, including detention, establishment of ID, search of person, a full-body photograph, and all were ordered to leave the area.
Saxon State police also confirmed the fan festival in the nearby market area, attracting approximately 2,000 people at its peak, remained peaceful throughout.
Palace take on Rayo in their first European final at the 47,800 Leipzig Stadium on Wednesday evening.
