Union Berlin fans were injured in an “extremely tough police action” before the Europa Conference League match at Feyenoord Rotterdam.
The Berlin club announced this while the match was still in progress. “We are in contact with our security officer. There was an extremely tough police operation with several injured,” said press spokesman Christian Arbeit. At half-time of the match, hundreds of guest fans were still standing outside the gates, the fan solidarity group “Eiserne Hilfe” spoke of numerous detentions.
“Several people were bitten by dogs “
“There were targeted attacks on the heads of participants at the fan march, the use of batons and dogs at the entrance, several people were bitten, have lacerations or are in hospital,” said “Eiserne Hilfe” chairman Andreas Lattemann. He spoke of an operation of an “arbitrary nature”.
“We will evaluate the situation together with Feyenoord and UEFA this evening and address these incidents very clearly. “
CHRISTIAN ARBEIT, UNION PRESS OFFICER
In the press conference after the match, which Union lost 1:3, Arbeit said: “Such a situation is not acceptable. We will still evaluate the situation together with Feyenoord and UEFA tonight and address these incidents very clearly.”
Rotterdam police reported 75 arrests late on Thursday night. According to the report, a group of 59 Union supporters had been spotted in the run-up to the match and taken into temporary custody on “suspicion of preparing open violence”. A further 16 people were arrested on suspicion of vandalism and possession of fireworks, among other charges.
On Wednesday, a 25-person Union delegation with club president Dirk Zingler had already been physically attacked by hooligans in a bar.
