Footage has emerged appearing to show Dutch football fans attacking England supporters in Dortmund ahead of the teams’ Euro 2024 semi-final meet tonight.
At least five people sustained minor injuries, and numerous people have been arrested, as a result of the brawl in the German city, according to UK police.
Men in orange t-shirts could be seen hurling fists, chairs and even a sign at what are believed to be England fans in a video shot out front of Sausalitos restaurant on Kleppingstraße, in the heart of the German host city.
One man was yanked back repeatedly by his t-shirt while punches were landed on his head as he scrambled for cover.
He was then helped towards the doorway of the restaurant where others hid behind outdoor seating.
One person could be seen standing on a table apparently trying to cool tensions while projectiles flew threw the air and some suspected England fans picked up seats of their own before scrambling for cover indoors.
Some England fans were also seen punching supporters from the Netherlands.
Ben Joyce Foot, 27, was among those who found themselves ‘held in a bar because Dutch fans attacked us’, he said on X at 4.33pm
Just three hours prior, he had suggested Sausolitos as a ‘quite empty’ place to gather after the Free Lions fan account appealed for a ‘good gathering point’ for England fans as the ‘Friedensplatz Fan Zone is completely full’.
By 4pm, however, the area was ‘absolutely rammed with Dutch out of nowhere’, Ben posted.
He shared video showing the tree lined boulevard clogged with Dutch fans in orange t-shirts, some climbing lampposts, with orange smoke blowing through the air.
But the joyous atmosphere soon descended into violence, although the cause is not yet apparent.
‘We’ve been attacked by Dutch’, Ben posted on X at 4.30pm, ‘and now us (mostly English but a few Dutch in this bar) are being held back by German police.’
Officers could be seen pinning at least one orange-clad Dutch fan to the ground with tattooed behind his back following the violence.
Ben later posted a selfie of himself shrugging indoors with a police officer behind him.
Keen to defend the comradeship behaviour of his Dutch counterparts, most of whom were seen watching on rather than joining the brawl, Ben said: ‘The Dutch lads in the bar before it all kicked off – and particularly after – have all been 10/10. One has given me a can he snuck in.
‘Very much a minority of the Orange army, who the vast majority have been great banter, but was started by them nonetheless.’
The fans were finally allowed to leave Sausalitos around 6.40pm, prompting Ben to post ‘Finally let free by the German Old Bill, off to the game we go’, with just over an hour to go before kickoff.
The UK Football Policing Unit released a statement saying: ‘We are aware of some reports and videos circulating of disorder in Dortmund.
‘It appears that there have been several instances of Dutch fans attacking England fans in bars and attempting to steal flags.
‘We are also aware that in addition to the tens of thousands of Dutch fans there to enjoy the game, there are groups of risk supporters who have travelled to Dortmund from the Netherlands.’
UK police are in Germany working alongside local police in Dortmund where some 80,000 Dutch fans have gathered.
That’s double the 40,000 England supporters believed to be present for the semi-final game.
Whoever wins will play Spain in Sunday’s final.
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