Crystal Palace fans clash with Rayo Vallecano 'troublemakers' in Leipzig ahead of Conference League final | OneFootball

Palace fans outside an Irish bar were involved in violence with a group all wearing similar black t-shirts

Crystal Palace fans were involved in clashes in Leipzig on the eve of their Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.

Supporters of both clubs attacked German police, mainly by hurling objects at them during the public disorder.

Dozens of “troublemaker” fans from the clubs were ordered to leave the city centre.

In footage circulating on social media, Palace fans gathered outside an Irish bar called Dhillons in the German city can be seen being targeted a group of men all wearing similar black t-shirts.

Footage appears to show upwards of 20 black-clad men charging at Palace supporters, with chairs and punches being thrown from either side before riot police, armed with batons, intervene.

Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans clashed in Leipzig

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In a statement, Leipzig Police said: “At approximately 8pm, around 300 Rayo Vallecano fans, considered to be at high risk of hooliganism (troublemakers), were gathered in the city centre.

Bottles, beer glasses, and pub furniture were thrown with physical clashes between fans.

Police officers immediately intervened and separated the two groups of fans.

“Police officers were attacked by both sets of fans. This occurred primarily through the throwing of objects,” the statement added.

The situation calmed down but some of the individuals involved in the violence were not detained by police and a second clash swiftly happened.

“A group of known troublemakers from Crystal Palace advanced to the area of ​​the Penguin Ice Bar,” said the Leipzig police chiefs.

“The approximately 60 individuals provoked passing Spanish fans and were promptly surrounded by federal police.”

Riot police section off Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans in Leipzig City Centre, ahead of the UEFA Conference League Final

PA

Officers set up “processing lines” to search fans identified as troublemakers and other suspects.

Around 320 fans were forced to give their identity details, with many of them ordered to leave the area.

Two people were arrested in the operation, during which two police officers suffered minor injuries, which ended at 3.15am.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said German officers had explained that the crowd of fans in the city centre were held over an alleged breach of peace, which would constitute a criminal offence under German law.

Some fans were subjected to police control measures, including detention, establishment of ID, search of person, and full-body photograph.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner (right) and goalkeeper Dean Henderson during a press conference at the Red Bull Arena, Leipzig in Germany ahead of the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday.

PA

Crystal Palace take on Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday evening in their first ever European final, with a win capping an extraordinary 12 months for the club which has already seen them win the FA Cup and Community Shield.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner is taking charge of his final game in charge, as the club also look to qualify for the Europa League with victory.