Riot police were forced to escort Crystal Palace supporters to the Stade de la Meinau after violent scenes erupted in Strasbourg ahead of the Eagles' Europa Conference League fixture on Wednesday.
Chaos in the Streets
Disturbing social media footage captured the moment tensions boiled over, showing a group of agitated fans throwing chairs and other objects in a public square. The cause of the conflict remains unclear, but the disorder left onlookers in shock and required police intervention. According to reports, windows were smashed during the unsavoury incident.
The Sun reported that a deployment of gendarmes, some carrying riot shields and supported by police vans, was necessary to contain the situation. A small group of Palace fans were subsequently marshalled by officers, making the hour-long journey to the stadium under strict police supervision and only permitted to move when instructed.
Footballing Context and Manager's Preview
The match held significant importance for Oliver Glasner's side, who sat 11th in the competition's league phase. A victory against seventh-placed Strasbourg could have propelled Crystal Palace into the automatic qualifying spots.
Previewing the encounter, Glasner had acknowledged the challenge, stating, "Strasbourg are a very good team... I was really impressed... very intense, very quick players." He also noted the presence of former loanee Ben Chilwell, calling him a "fantastic player, and an even better person" and recalling their FA Cup win together.
This incident follows other recent episodes of fan trouble involving British clubs in European competitions, casting a shadow over the build-up to the match.
