England's 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening Euro 2024 match was overshadowed by violent clashes hours before kick-off in Gelsenkirchen. German police arrested seven Serbian citizens after a brawl at a restaurant terrace left one officer and several fans injured.
The incident occurred at the Hirt Steakhouse around 3.45pm local time, where chairs, bottles and tables were thrown. Video footage showed a man being kicked in the head while lying on the ground. Police separated the fan groups, and seven Serbs were taken into custody on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
A UK football policing unit spokesperson said no British nationals had been arrested but warned that football banning orders would be sought for any UK fans involved. Witnesses initially blamed Albanian fans, but police later confirmed the altercation involved English and Serbian supporters.
Earlier, a fan march by 4,000 Serbian supporters was temporarily halted after pyrotechnics were set off. The match was designated high risk due to the reputation of both fanbases, with police warning of up to 500 Serbian hooligans seeking trouble.
Despite the pre-match violence, the game itself passed peacefully with a heavy police presence. Some fans reported transport difficulties, with long waits for trams and shuttle buses, but the 50,000-capacity stadium was largely full by kick-off.
