Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Fights break out in Gelsenkirchen as fans clash at Euro 2024

Written by Harry Dowsett
Last Update: June 17, 2024
Published on

A series of fights have broken out in the city of Gelsenkirchen as a number of different fans clash at Euro 2024.

It was the latest incident to involve violence at the tournament and the frequency at which it is occurring is becoming very concerning.

Fans clash at Gelsenkirchen Euro 2024 as fights ensue

Fans clash at Euro 2024
Photo by Icon Sport

Fans clash at Euro 2024 ahead of Serbia vs England match

In what may not come as a shock to most people, a group of England fans have been involved in a brawl with both Serbia and Albania supporters. Although, in their defence, the reports suggest that they were the victims, rather than the instigators, this time round.

It is believed that Albanian fans in Germany planned ambushes on the bars that Serbia and England supporters would be drinking in ahead of the game, which resulted in a series of fights breaking out in the streets of Gelsenkirchen.

Images of chairs being thrown highlighted just how violent things got before police arrived at the scene.

Unfortunately, violence such as this has become increasingly more common as more and more fans arrive in the country, and it is tarnishing a tournament, which, from a footballing perspective at least, has been fantastic.

Violent history between Albania and Serbia fans

There has been a long-standing conflict between the two nations since the late 19th century when many Albanians were expelled from their homes due to a war between the countries.

Since then, interactions between the two sets of fanbases have rarely ended positively, and there is a long history of violence between them. In fact, in 2o15, a European Championships qualifying match between them was abandoned after a flag-carrying drone ruptured tensions.

UEFA received a lot of backlash on the night for not keeping the two nations separate during the draw for the qualifying groups, but it is a lot harder to pin the blame on the governing body this time.

England fans involved again as fans clash at Euro 2024

Despite reports suggesting that Three Lions supporters were the victims of an ambush in Gelsenkirchen, it has become almost inevitable that, at some stage of an international tournament, England fans will be involved in some sort of brawl.

Having already been pictured singing a frowned-upon chant that references World War Two, it is yet another stain on the image of Three Lions supporters across Europe.

The football at Euro 2024 has been fantastic, with plenty of drama for us to feast on, but the violence is becoming a major concern.