Arsenal fans clash with Paris St Germain gangs in Budapest and police arrest two British supporters ahead of Champions League Final
Arsenal fans clashed with Paris St Germain fans on the streets of Budapest ahead of tonight’s Champions League final as police prepare for more trouble.
Video footage showed a fight between rival groups on Király Street, with fans kicking and punching each other while flares were thrown.
While French fans were heard shouting ‘mattresses’ during the brawl, a police spokesman said officers were investigating ‘group confusion’ and trying to identify the perpetrators.
Elsewhere, two England supporters have so far been arrested for disorderly conduct and damaging a vehicle.
Approximately 4,000 police officers will be deployed to tonight’s match at Puskas Arena to keep visitors safe and prevent clashes between rival fan groups.
It is feared that up to 10,000 fans who want to be nearby on what could be a historic night for Arsenal will come to Hungary without buying tickets for the match.
Arsenal had only reached the final once before; In 2006, they lost 2-1 to Barcelona.
However, minor scuffles and clashes between rival fans started last night, and images on social media showed groups of fans fighting in the streets.
Video footage showed a fight between rival groups on Király Street, with fans kicking and punching each other as flares were thrown
Police said they were analyzing the footage to identify those responsible for the fight on Király Street
Arsenal fans took to the streets on Friday night as the club prepared for its first Champions League final in 20 years
Around 4,000 police are on duty tonight both at the Puskas Arena and on the streets of the city to keep visitors safe and prevent clashes between rival fan groups.
An Arsenal fan wears a crown in Budapest ahead of the Champions League final on Saturday
Police said that shortly after midnight, a group of fans fighting each other on Király Street lit and threw smoke flares. Police are currently analyzing the footage to identify those responsible.
Elsewhere, at 16:00 local time on Friday, a British man was arrested after he got into a fight with two Portuguese men at one of the gates of the Festival of Champions. All three were detained and charged with disorderly conduct.
Police said a second British national was later detained after climbing on top of a car and damaging it around 11pm.
Even hours before kick-off at 17:00 UK time, fans of both teams were already gathering in the streets on Saturday morning; Most of them after a long night of celebration and excitement leading up to Friday.
It is then thought that there will be up to 45,000 extra football fans in the city when the match starts, leading to the largest police mobilization in history.
Final operations commander, Major General Dr. János Zoltán Kuczik warned at a press conference this week: ‘If we encounter any behavior that would disrupt public order, we will take decisive action.
‘It is no secret that having fans from London and Paris in Budapest at the same time poses a significant risk, but it is our job to minimize this risk.’
Security preparations for the final European match of the season began more than a year ago, with officials taking advice from those in London and Paris and officials also visiting last year’s final in Munich to observe operations.
Hungary is hosting this fixture for the first time.
In addition to increasing security, the city also prepared extra public transportation and fan buses to transport fans of both teams.
London’s pubs and fan zones are expected to be packed later, with fans hoping to repeat their team’s recent success in the Premier League.
Even hours before kick-off at 5pm UK time, fans of both teams were gathering in the streets on Saturday morning.
An Arsenal fan poses for a photo in Budapest on Saturday as Arsenal could take home the Champions League trophy for the first time
Ardenal fans went to cafes and restaurants in Budapest for breakfast this morning
Arsenal fans wearing special jerseys gathered in the city center ahead of tonight’s match
Fans pose with a replica of the Champions League trophy on Saturday
An Arsenal fan attended the UEFA Champions festival at Heroes’ Square in Budapest on Friday
It is then thought that there will be up to 45,000 extra football fans in the city when the match starts, leading to the largest police mobilization in history.
An Arsenal fan is seen before the team’s match against Paris St Germain in Budapest, Hungary.
Fans are certainly optimistic; They will be hoping history is made soon after the club’s first Premier League trophy in 22 years
Thousands of Arsenal fans gathered on the streets of Budapest on Friday night ahead of today’s final match.
Arsenal fans danced the night away ahead of today’s Champions League match against PSG
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s final preparations continue in Budapest.
Speaking this week, manager Mikel Arteta said the ‘aim is bigger now’ after the team clinched top spot in England’s top football league.
‘We won and now we want the second one. We need to achieve bigger goals.
‘I want the players to have a lot of confidence in themselves. Players want more. Living those moments brings you a different kind of desire.
‘You feel what it’s like to win and you want to recreate that feeling as often as possible.’
Fans are certainly optimistic; They will be hoping history is being made after the club’s first Premier League trophy in 22 years.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Budapest last night to drink, dance and sing, and they hope many more will follow tonight.
Many faced long, complicated journeys to support their side; They had to use indirect routes to catch flights, trains and buses and ensure they arrived on time.
Whatever the outcome, experts agree that fans should expect a close match.
Brazilian legend Cafu told the Daily Mail he was very close but Arteta’s team could definitely be “really dangerous” for PSG.
‘I don’t know, it’s really hard to know who will win. I can’t say today whether it’s Paris or Arsenal,” Cafu said.
‘Both teams have the same 11’ [in quality] so it’s really hard to know who will win.
‘[Arsenal] A truly dangerous team. A team that knows how to play from set pieces. They showed a great fight, they did not concede many goals. So I’m sure it’ll be a really big finale.’
