July 10th 2024.
The atmosphere was tense as projectiles flew through the air, accompanied by the sound of fists landing in the midst of a heated brawl between Netherlands and England supporters. This chaotic scene was captured on footage, which has recently emerged, showing Dutch football fans attacking England fans in Dortmund prior to their highly-anticipated Euro 2024 semi-final match tonight.
Reports from UK police state that at least five people sustained minor injuries and multiple arrests were made as a result of the violence that erupted in the German city. The video, shot in front of Sausalitos restaurant on Kleppingstraße, in the heart of the host city, shows men wearing orange t-shirts hurling fists, chairs, and even a sign at what is believed to be a group of England fans.
In the midst of the chaos, one man can be seen desperately trying to find cover as he is repeatedly yanked back by his t-shirt and pummeled with punches. Others sought refuge behind outdoor seating, while some attempted to calm the situation by standing on tables. However, the tension only escalated as more projectiles were thrown, and some England fans retaliated by picking up chairs and seeking shelter indoors. In the midst of the chaos, it was also reported that some England fans were seen punching Dutch supporters.
One eyewitness, Ben Joyce Foot, 27, shared his account of the events on social media, stating that they were "held in a bar because Dutch fans attacked us." Just three hours before, he had suggested Sausolitos as a "quite empty" gathering spot for England fans, as the designated fan zone was already overcrowded. However, by 4 pm, the area was "absolutely rammed with Dutch out of nowhere," according to Ben's post. He also shared footage of the tree-lined boulevard filled with Dutch fans, some of whom were climbing lampposts and setting off orange smoke.
Despite the initially joyous atmosphere, the situation quickly turned violent, although the cause is still unclear. Several arrests were made, and Ben himself posted a video of a tattooed Dutch fan being pinned to the ground by police. In another post, he shared a selfie with a police officer behind him, shrugging in confusion.
In an attempt to defend the behavior of his Dutch counterparts, who mainly watched rather than participated in the brawl, Ben stated that "the Dutch lads in the bar before it all kicked off, and particularly after, have all been 10/10." He even mentioned that one of them had given him a can of beer. However, he also acknowledged that it was a minority of the Orange army who instigated the violence.
As the tension continued to escalate, the fans were finally allowed to leave Sausalitos around 6:40 pm, with just over an hour left until kickoff. The UK Football Policing Unit released a statement addressing the disorder, stating that they were aware of reports and videos of Dutch fans attacking England fans, attempting to steal flags, and the presence of risk supporters who had traveled from the Netherlands to Dortmund. UK police were working alongside local authorities in Dortmund, where approximately 80,000 Dutch fans had gathered, outnumbering the 40,000 England supporters present for the semi-final game. The winner of this match would go on to face Spain in the final on Sunday.
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