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ARCHIVED - Eintracht fans already in street battles with police in Seville the day before the Europa League final
Five German fans have been arrested and one Rangers fan injured, but the majority of supporters have been peaceful
Ahead of the UEFA Europa League cup final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers due to be held in Seville tonight, the Spanish city has ramped up its police presence to try to stamp out any hooligan violence as quickly as possible.
And that’s just what happened last night on the Paseo de Colón, on the corner where the well-known Irish bar O’Neills is located, where Eintracht fans clashed with Rangers supporters.
A video provided by La Sexta journalist Leandro Iglesias clearly shows the German radicals throwing flares and glasses at the Scots, who at that moment were in the bars of Paseo Colón at the junction of Calle Adriano.
De nuevo los hinchas del Eintracht liándola en Sevilla. Han lanzado bengalas y vasos contra los del Rangers. pic.twitter.com/veYnIJG3pV
— Leandro Iglesias (@leandrosexta) May 17, 2022
Several police vans were stationed between the two groups of supporters, preventing further disturbances, although the situation was quite tense throughout.
This was almost exactly the same spot where Eintracht hooligans became involved in a pitched battle with West Ham fans just over two months ago, throwing glasses, chairs and tables in the middle of the road.
After those events, O’Neills chose to remain closed last night. It is believed that the German fans fled to the Paseo de Colón last night after almost 200 of them attacked Scottish fans in the area around the city’s cathedral. Five Germans were arrested for public disorder, while one Scot was reported to have suffered a head injury.
18.05.2022, Eintracht Frankfurt🇩🇪 vs Rangers🏴, Frankfurt hools hunted Rangers fans in night, 10 injured Ranger total https://t.co/Fjy3xrlEmQ#RangersFC #EintrachtFrankfurt #hooligans pic.twitter.com/U2sbmcyilu
— Hooligans.cz Official (@hooliganscz1999) May 18, 2022
Police have updated their estimates for how many fans are expected in the city today, upping the figure to 100,000 German fans and 50,000 Rangers fans, with a total of 130,000 people who don’t even have tickets for the match.
Disturbances in Malaga
Many of the German and Scottish supporters who are coming to Seville for the final have flown through Malaga airport, and there were also scenes in the city of Malaga, where some of them stopped off for the day yesterday, that locals found less than savoury.
At 4pm in the afternoon yesterday, a video was captured of Rangers fans belting out a long and unruly version of ’10 German Bombers’, the offensive football chant that is banned on many terraces.
The Twitter account for Malaga Old Town, @CentroAntiguoMalaga, said that “The locals of the Centro neighbourhood are very unhappy” and that they had “never seen the neighbourhood so low.”
Still singing about German bombers the locals are not very happy.@eintracht_eng 💚🤍🧡 https://t.co/uvn1WvPYzw
— William Graham (@wullybh88y) May 17, 2022
A peaceful final
It wasn’t all hooliganism, ultras and violence though. The vast majority of fans have abided by the rules and the pleas of famous football stars who were calling for a peaceful, enjoyable and well-behaved final.
Rangers fan and professional photographer, Dan Westwell, shared photos on Twitter of supporters of both sides enjoying together and being very friendly.
“Don't always believe what you read in the papers,” read his Tweet. “This is what Rangers FC fans have been doing all day and night with Eeintracht fans around Seville. I’ve never seen two sets of fans hugging, singing each other’s songs & wishing each other all the best than I have tonight.”
Don't always believe what you read in the papers. This is what @RangersFC fans have been doing all day and night with @eintracht_us fans around Seville. I've never seen two sets of fans hugging, singing each others songs & wishing each other all the best than I have tonight. pic.twitter.com/rsKJm16GPw
— Dan Westwell 🇬🇧 (@DanWestwell) May 17, 2022
Image: Policía Nacional
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