One England fan and seven Serbian supporters are facing criminal charges and tournament bans following a brawl involving around 150 people ahead of Sunday's Euro 2024 match. The violence erupted in central Gelsenkirchen when England fans attempted to enter a bar occupied by Serbia supporters, German police said on Monday.
Police chief Peter Both stated that the altercation began when a larger group of England fans tried to enter the restaurant where Serbian fans were eating. Chairs, bottles, and tables were thrown, leaving several fans and at least one police officer with serious head injuries. One England fan was treated at hospital but discharged himself to attend the game.
Both confirmed that criminal proceedings would be pursued against the eight men taken into custody, and they would recommend banning them from the remainder of the tournament. He noted that around 50 identity checks were carried out, and eight fans were detained before the match, preventing them from watching it.
Despite the incident, Both praised the overall behaviour of England fans, saying that only one detention was made among them. He explained that arrests were limited to those who could be individually identified through video evidence or police testimony as having thrown objects or struck others.
