Europa Conference League
Dog bites, injured police horse: violence overshadows Union Berlin game in Rotterdam
The stands are also seething: Union Berlin fans at the game against Feyenoord in Rotterdam
© Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images
Union Berlin conceded the second defeat in the Europa Conference League in Rotterdam. After that, however, the main discussion is about the tough intervention of the police. Fans even have to go to the hospital.
A total of 75 arrests were made on Thursday evening around the European Cup match of 1. FC Union Berlin at Feyenoord Rotterdam. This was announced by the police in the Netherlands. According to this, a group of 59 people before the encounter in the Europa Conference League, which the Berliners lost 3-1, sought a confrontation with Feyenoord fans. According to the police, they were under suspicion of “preparing for open violence,” a statement said. The other 16 people are suspected of vandalism and possession of fireworks, among other things.
Union laments chaotic scenes before the entrance
The police also reported that a “small group of German hooligans” had attacked the officers. As a result of the attack, a police dog was used, which bit three Union fans as well as a police officer. The four affected had to be treated in hospital. A police horse and rider were also injured because the animal was frightened by fireworks and fell.
For its part, the Bundesliga club announced that there had been chaotic scenes before the entrance to the guest block. Hundreds of supporters who had traveled with them complained not only of extremely long waiting times in front of the De Kuip stadium, but also of excessive police operations and arbitrary arrests. The followers reported targeted attacks by the aggressive officials on social media.
“From our point of view, it is a catastrophic situation when several hundred people with tickets are not in the stadium by half-time. Then something can be wrong,” said Union communications chief Christian Arbeit: “There are pictures of numerous injured people from an apparently very tough police operation That is simply unacceptable in its entirety. “
Union announced talks both with those in charge of Feyenoord and with the European Football Union Uefa. “We will have to talk about how something like this can happen at European level. It is unacceptable that way,” said Arbeit.