Police fear Utrecht ultras may ambush FC Porto fans | OneFootball

The municipal police of Utrecht have expressed concern about possible riots in the city center associated with the match between Utrecht and FC Porto, scheduled for Thursday at the Galgenwaard stadium. According to the newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, around 150 to 200 local ultras are planning to confront FC Porto supporters, raising doubts about public safety.

The chief of police, Johan van Hartskamp, expressed indignation at the conduct of this “well-known group, which spoils the event for the vast majority of fans.” Van Hartskamp recalled that similar situations occurred during the UEFA Europa League match against Lyon, in the first round of the group stage, when authorities had difficulty controlling the disturbances. “It’s great that Utrecht is playing in Europe, but unfortunately, for us in the police, it’s not a celebration,” he lamented.

As a preventive measure, around 350 additional officers have been deployed to ensure public order. “I am very concerned about the behavior of these individuals, who seem to want only violence. It’s insane behavior,” stated the chief of Utrecht police.

Van Hartskamp also criticized Utrecht and the fan groups, accusing them of not condemning the violent acts: “We haven’t heard anything from them, not even after officers were injured during the last clashes. Football should be a celebration. The club has a social responsibility and should help to ban those who disturb the peace.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.