Violent clashes have broken out in Wroclaw this evening between Chelsea and Real Betis fans ahead of the Europa Conference League final.
The rival supporters have been causing chaos on the streets of the Polish city, just hours before kick-off for the crunch match at the Wrocław Stadium.
Police have arrested 28 people following violent clashes between ‘several hundred’ people in the city’s Market Square just after 5pm today.
Cops were forced to use a water cannon on some of the Chelsea supporters while riot officers also formed a wall separating both sets of fans after bottles were thrown at one another from the bars.
Mail Sport was nearly struck by one which came from a Betis group.
Chairs were also used as missiles and some who were unfortunate enough to be hit were seen with bloodied heads as blue and green flares were likewise thrown.
Elsewhere, a group of Real Betis were seen mercilessly kicking and striking at least one Chelsea fan next to a bus stop, leaving him cowering with a bloody nose.
A Chelsea fan was battered and left with a bloody nose after being attacked by Betis fans
Shocking photos have emerged showing the supporter being attacked by a group of Betis fans
The fan, still grasping a can of alcohol, is led away with blood streaming down his nose
Fights had broken out between rivals fans with one supporter even wielding a belt.
Smashed glass was scattered on the floor with all this occurring near the fan park.
They were worrying scenes with kick-off set at 9pm for this European final.
Chelsea are bidding to ‘win it all’ by securing the Conference League trophy, having previously won the Champions League and Europa League.
Clashes between supporters began on Tuesday and on Wednesday Polish police reportedly began hunting for the fans involved, with local media branding them ‘thugs’.
Locals have been ordered to report any ‘dangerous incidents’ as the police and city guard look to stamp out any further trouble before the final.
Supporters had descended on the Salt Market Square and clashed outside a restaurant on the eve of the final, with fans desperately trying to fend off police, throwing chairs and other objects towards them.
Scenes turned sour after a reported series of ‘scuffles’ between fans and pepper spray was apparently unleashed on unruly individuals.
Police have rushed in to prevent clashes in Wroclaw ahead of the Conference League final
Riot officers formed a wall separating supporters after bottles were thrown at one another
Scenes turned sour after a reported series of ‘scuffles’ between fans of Chelsea and Betis
Now police are searching for stragglers from Tuesday night and are even going undercover in plain clothes to root out misbehaviour, local outlet Wroclaw Wyborcza reports.
‘The police assure that residents and true football fans can feel safe, because there are a lot of uniformed and plainclothes police in the city, who react immediately,’ the outlet claims.
Meanwhile, Sport claims that football fans have ‘vandalised the city premises and infrastructure’, branding them ‘thugs’.
Armed with batons and shields, it is believed that police made a barricade to separate fans on the northern side of the Market Square.
As objects were thrown their way, they decided to intervene and seemingly unleashed pepper spray on supporters.
Pictures show armed police spraying a substance toward Chelsea fans in the market, as they attempt to flee the area.
Following the incident, the Provincial Police Headquarters in Wroclaw released a statement.
‘The uniformed officers reacted immediately after the incident, which resulted in no further escalation of the conflict or negative behavior,’ the statement read.
Chairs were also used as missiles and some unfortunate fans were seen with bloodied heads
Before the game it had been reported that authorities already advised residents to limit travel
More than 70,000 supporters are estimated to have descended on the Polish city of Wroclaw
Chelsea are bidding to ‘win it all’ by securing the Conference League trophy on Wednesday
‘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.
More than 70,000 supporters are estimated to have descended on Wroclaw, despite the stadium only having a capacity 42,000.
To deal with the influx of fans, reportedly 2,000 police offers from around Poland have come to the city.
