About 300 Rayo Vallecano fans considered high-risk for hooliganism clashed with Crystal Palace supporters in Leipzig city centre on Tuesday evening, ahead of the UEFA Conference League final held Wednesday night in the city [1, 2, 3].
The clashes involved fans throwing bottles, beer glasses, pub furniture, and included both verbal and physical altercations [1, 2, 3]. Approximately 60 Crystal Palace fans identified as "known troublemakers" were ordered to leave the area after provoking Spanish fans near the Penguin Ice Bar [1, 2, 3]. Two Crystal Palace fans were arrested during the disturbances [1, 2, 3].
Two police officers, one from the Federal police and one from the State police, sustained minor injuries but remained fit for duty throughout the operation [1, 2]. Police checked the identities of more than 300 people and the operation continued through the night, concluding at approximately 3:15 a.m. on Wednesday [1, 2, 3].
Thousands of fans from both Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano gathered peacefully later on Wednesday for the final, with fan zones mostly calm aside from the earlier disturbances [4, 5, 3]. Both teams reached their first European final after long histories: Crystal Palace previously played only in the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup, and Rayo Vallecano last competed in Europe in 2001 reaching the UEFA Cup quarter-finals [4, 5].
Earlier, Rayo Vallecano supporters raised funds via crowdfunding to compensate 14 fans scammed out of 250 euros (~291 USD) each for a bogus bus trip to the final, quickly enabling replacement charter flights [4, 5]. Local Rayo fans expressed gratitude: "Thank you to the anonymous Rayistas who helped and thank you to the best squad in our history, who proved their commitment to fans," a fan group statement said [4].
Rayo Vallecano fan Angel Linares said, "I am just trying to enjoy every single second. An experience like this is very, very unlikely to ever happen to us again." [4]
