One England fan and seven Serbs are facing criminal charges in Gelsenkirchen after clashes between both sets of supporters ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match on Sunday, June 16. According to the police, the incident happened in the Western German city after England fans tried to enter a restaurant full of Serbians, causing mayhem in the area.
The fight between English and Serbs began at 3:45 PM local time, which led to chairs and tables getting upended in Gelsenkirchen. There were several fans and at least one officer of the police left with injuries after reporters arrived at the scene, who also spotted the street littered with glass.
The Police Chief of Gelsenkirchen, Peter Booth, who is responsible for the safety of fans at the UEFA Euro 2024, remarked that they are not sure about who provoked the violence, but the eight men involved will face criminal proceedings and a potential ban from the tournament. He said, at a press conference, “The Serbian fan group was already in the restaurant and obviously ate there and then a larger group of English fans then tried to get into this restaurant as well. And that’s exactly what sparked the dispute.”
“What we can hardly say now, of course, in retrospect, is did the Serbs refuse entry to the English or did the English provoke the Serbs? Of course, this can hardly be brightened up afterwards. The fact is that when they tried to enter the pub, there was an immediate physical altercation,” he added.
Moreover, England’s Group C match in the UEFA Euro 2024 against Serbia went ahead as planned at the Arena AufSchalk in Gelsenkirchen. A Jude Bellingham strike in the 13th minute helped England start their campaign with a vital win.