Footage has emerged of fans fighting in Cardiff city centre ahead of the Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City. The brawl occurred outside O'Neill's on St Mary Street, with supporters captured on camera as the pre-match atmosphere intensified.
Violence erupts ahead of kick-off
Violence broke out among supporters in Cardiff city centre in the build-up to Sunday's Community Shield. Premier League champions Arsenal faced FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Welsh capital, with the match serving as the traditional curtain-raiser to the English top-flight campaign.
Despite the Community Shield often being regarded as a relatively low-key piece of silverware, tensions were clearly mounting in the hours before kick-off. One Arsenal supporter, sporting a replica shirt bearing 'Champions 26' on the reverse, could be seen exchanging blows with another individual while numerous other fans looked on.
Drinks thrown and chants heard
As the incident developed, some appeared to hurl their drinks over the pair, while others simply began chanting 'Arsenal, Arsenal'.
The Community Shield is taking place in Cardiff for the first time in 20 years. Wembley, which has staged all but two of the Community Shields since 2007, is unavailable owing to a scheduling conflict.
Principality Stadium hosts the match
The Weeknd's 'After Hours til Dawn' tour is presently under way at the London stadium. That has led to the Principality Stadium being selected to stage the encounter between Arsenal and Manchester City.
Arsenal needed just 24 seconds to take the lead in the match when Riccardo Calafiori put the north Londoners in front after a fine Myles Lewis-Skelly pass.
