Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans 'minutes from serious injuries' in Conference League final violence | OneFootball

Beer glasses, bottles and chairs were thrown between supporters in the German city

A restaurant owner has told how Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans came within “minutes of serious injuries” in clashes in Leipzig ahead of the Conference League final.

Large numbers of Spanish supporters, including some Ultras known as “Los Bukaneros”, are understood to have headed into the city centre from the railway station where they came across Palace fans.

"When the Palace fans saw them, they started chanting insults and throwing beer glasses,” a pub owner told The Leipziger Volkszeitung newspaper.

Vallecano supporters responded by hurling pub chairs and other furniture which quickly spiralled into verbal and physical clashes, with bottles flying.

German riot police had already been deployed to the area in anticipation of possible violence on Tuesday, the eve of the final at the Red Bull Arena.

"The fact that they were there immediately prevented something serious," a restaurant owner said.

"A few minutes longer, and there could have been serious injuries just from the beer glasses."

Riot police section off Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans in Leipzig city centre ahead of the Conference League final

PA

The clashes broke out between the English fans, who were seated at the terraces of Leo’s Brasserie and Dhillons Irish bar, and the Spanish supporters.

Leipzig police issued a statement on Wednesday morning on the public disorder.

The German police chiefs told how “around 300 Rayo Vallecano fans, considered to be at high risk of hooliganism” were gathered in the city centre at around 8pm.

“Near the outdoor seating area of ​​the Leo's Brasserie restaurant, clashes suddenly broke out with English fans who were seated on the outdoor terraces of both Leo's Brasserie and Dhillons,” they said.

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

In footage circulating on social media, Palace fans gathered outside Dhillons were seen being targeted a group of men all wearing similar black t-shirts.

Clips appear 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, intervened.

Crystal Palace fans being attacked in Leipzig

Unknown

A group of known “troublemakers” from Crystal Palace, the German police added, then moved to near ​​​​the Penguin Ice Bar.

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

Around 320 fans had to give their identity details to police, with many undergoing searches and being banned from the city centre.

Two officers were injured during the police operation which finished around 3.15am.

The fan festival in the nearby market area, attracting about 2000 people at its peak, remained peaceful during the evening but around 300 people refused to leave a restaurant at closing time.

“British police officers intervened, and the situation was quickly calmed down,” the German police statement added.

Crystal Palace fans in Leipzig, ahead of tonight's Conference League final

PA

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.

As many as 19,000 Palace fans are believed to have travelled to Leipzig with around 1,000 at risk of missing out on a ticket to the game.