Two arrested as Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans clash

Police said 60 Crystal Palace fans, classed as “known troublemakers”, were ordered to leave Leipzig city center on Tuesday evening, while two men were arrested following clashes between Eagles and Rayo Vallecano fans.

Thousands of fans travel to Leipzig for the Conference League final between Palace and Spain’s Vallecano on Wednesday (20:00 BST).

After videos of rival fans clashing in the German city appeared online on Tuesday, the Saxony State Police confirmed that two people had been arrested and all those involved in the disturbance had been ordered to leave the area.

Two officers, one from the Federal Police and one from the State Police, were slightly injured during clashes with both groups of fans.

“At approximately 20:00 (19:00 BST), approximately 300 Rayo Vallecano fans who were considered to be at high risk of hooliganism gathered in the city centre,” the Saxon State Police said in a statement.

Police said clashes “suddenly broke out” between Palace fans sitting on the outdoor terraces of Leo’s Brasserie and Dhillons.

In the police statement, “Bottles, beer glasses and bar furniture were thrown at each other. Physical fights also occurred.” The statement was included.

“Police teams who arrived at the scene immediately intervened, separated the two groups of fans, checked the identities of more than 300 people and ordered them to disperse.

“Known troublemakers of the Crystal Palace moved into the area where the Penguin Ice Bar is located, and approximately 60 of them provoked passing Spanish fans and were surrounded by federal police.”

The police operation, which involved more than 320 fans, ended around 3.15am on Wednesday morning.

Local police said the ‘fan festival’ in Leipzig’s market district was continuing peacefully, with around 2,000 fans from both clubs attending.