England fans clash with police as three arrested after mob ‘pelts cops with bottles’ in Porto
TROUBLE flared in Portuguese soccer city Porto last night as England fans were charged by police in a Uefa Nations League fan zone and have made three arrests.
Two England fans were hurt – one suffering a minor head injury and another a cut hand – in the skirmish next to Aliados metro station in Liberdade Square.
England fans at the scene blamed a Portuguese rival who issaid to have thrown a bottle when Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring against Switzerland with a first half free kick.
Around 150 English supporters watching the first semi-final on big screens clashed with locals before cops moved in to drive the factions apart.
Some fans claimed the police response was heavy handed, saying the cops launched the charge after just one beer bottle had been thrown in the air.
Eye witness Ollie Garfield wrote on Twitter: “Before any stories go around about England fans being hooligans… a lot of people stood watching the game casually enjoying themselves. A beer went in the air which led to Portugese police charging and hitting every person in sight…”
He added: “Witnessed it first hand. Pepper spray, batons and excessive force used. Luckily our group escaped with minor injuries but @UEFAEURO @UEFA when you choose a location for a tournament, make sure the city is up to hosting it.”
It was the first incident reported as an estimated 18,000 Three Lions supporters arrived in Portugal for the Nations League finals which run until Sunday.
England play Holland tomorrow cheered on by their biggest army of travelling fans in years.
TWO INJURED
The fan from Blackburn, Lancs who suffered the hand injury said last night: “It kicked off when one of the Portuguese threw a bottle at the English when their goal went in.
“Around 150-200 ran towards them and there were scuffles before it calmed down.
“I got deliberately tripped as I was running and think I cut my hand when I landed on glass.”
Another fan wearing a West Bromwich Albion shirt was seen being treated for a wound to the back of his head by paramedics.
Fans scattered in panic again as skirmishes erupted once more when Ronaldo fired in his second goal at another big screen in the lower part of the square.
Panicking locals ran to take cover in McDonalds near the screen as bottles were thrown and lines of riot cops pushed back chanting England fans.
Police cleared the area in front of the screen and calm was restored before Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with a brilliant clincher.
Fans had made their presence felt earlier in the north-west city and appeared to be in a joyous mood as they geared up for the clash against Holland in Guimaraes.
The fans can been seen dancing in numbers in Porto while others paraded themselves on top of plant pots as police kept a watchful eye on them.
There is expected to be an influx of around 15,000 England supporters in Guimaraes with the city the venue for the match against Ronald Koeman’s men.
Gareth Southgate recently urged fans to not “be that idiot” during the Nations League finals while the FA have branded “stag-do” supporters as an embarrassment to the country.
Leicester defender Harry Maguire said: “It’s going to be a great opportunity for the fans to go to Portugal.
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“Go and have a good time but there needs to be boundaries and I’m sure they will stick to them.
“I can only speak about when I was there for the Euros, it was unbelievable.
“The atmosphere they created was unbelievable and hopefully they will continue that.”
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