There were reports of a severe altercation between Chelsea and Real Betis supporters in Wroclaw before the start of the Europa Conference League Final. The confrontation caused the Polish police to quickly intervene and make use of pepper spray to disperse the crowd, to prevent further disputes and maintain order.
What Went Down
The violence occurred outside of several bars in Wroclaw, just some hours before Wednesday’s Europa Conference League Final. Both groups were filmed ruining the atmosphere by tossing whatever they had at hand, including chairs, at one another. Even with security standing by, the situation became tense very quickly.
Individuals standing by took photos and videos, showing viewers how mobs fought as surprised locals just looked. What’s more, the confrontation appeared to begin as a minor argument and became larger before the police arrived.
Police Intervention
The confrontation made the police officers step in with tear gas and pepper spray to avoid a more serious fight.
But according to a statement from the city’s Provincial Police Headquarters:
“The uniformed officers reacted immediately after the incident, which resulted in no further escalation of the conflict or negative behavior.
The fans scattered in different directions, and currently, the police officers of the criminal division are conducting activities aimed at identifying them.
The number of preventive and operational police forces and their saturation is so large in places where residents and sports fans gather or move around that everyone can feel safe.
Please immediately notify the nearby police or city guard patrol of any incident, or call the emergency number 112. We are at your disposal, and our priority is to ensure safety,” says Senior Warrant Officer Łukasz Dutkowiak.
Foot patrols, monitoring from drones and helicopters, and intensified activities on the streets and in key locations – the office enumerates and adds, “Firefighters from the Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Wrocław and rescuers are also ready to respond immediately, especially in the area of the stadium and all fan zones.”
Looking Ahead
On Wednesday evening, Chelsea FC of England and Real Betis of Spain will compete to win the Europa Conference League trophy. Chelsea placed fourth in the last game, while Real Betis finished in sixth during this year’s season. The security in Poland seems well prepared, as the first European Championship game is about to begin.
