German police clash with Crystal Palace and Vallecano fans at Europa final

Police in Leipzig responded to two incidents involving clashes between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano supporters ahead of their Conference League final. Around 300 Rayo fans, considered high risk, encountered Palace fans outside restaurants, leading to verbal and physical attacks. Bottles, beer glasses, and restaurant furniture were thrown, and officers intervened. A second incident involved about 60 Palace fans provoking Spanish supporters near the Penguin Ice Bar, with federal police surrounding the group. Emergency services separated the fan camps, and police reported minor injuries to two officers who remained fit for duty. More than 300 people had their identities checked, and two arrests were made.

"German police said bottles, beer glasses and restaurant furniture were thrown on Tuesday evening when a group of about 300 Rayo fans encountered Palace fans who were sitting outside restaurants, and that officers also intervened in a further incident when about 60 Palace fans provoked Spanish supporters of the La Liga club."

"At approximately 20:00 (19:00 BST), around 300 Rayo Vallecano fans, considered to be at high risk of hooliganism, were gathered in the city centre, read a statement from Saxon State Police. Fans of Rayo Vallecano and Crystal Palace attacked each other verbally and physically."

"The Leipzig Police Department, with the support of the riot police, has been on duty since Monday. The emergency services on site immediately went between the fan camps and separated them. Police forces from both fan camps were attacked. This was mainly done by throwing."

"Reporting on the separate incident with fans from the English Premier League club, the police added: Known troublemakers from Crystal Palace moved to the area of the Penguin Ice Bar and approximately 60 individuals provoked passing Spanish fans and were surrounded by federal police."

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