Five people were injured in clashes between England and Netherlands fans ahead of the UEFA EURO 2024 semifinal match between the two teams, German police said on Wednesday.
Before the game, more than 100,000 soccer fans—the majority of whom were Dutch and many of whom did not have tickets—were predicted to arrive in Dortmund. The UK Football Police Unit, which deals with violence in football, said, "We are aware of some reports and video footage circulating of disorder in Dortmund. "Dutch fans seem to have attacked English supporters in bars on multiple occasions, attempting to take flags.
"We know this has resulted in five people being slightly injured. We are also aware that in addition to the tens of thousands of Dutch fans who are there to enjoy the game, groups of dangerous fans travel to Dortmund from the Netherlands.
Videos circulating on social media showed some people dressed in Dutch-colored clothing throwing chairs across a seating area outside a bar, while another group took shelter inside.
Local police in Dortmund said there was a clash between two groups in a restaurant during which objects were thrown, adding that an unspecified number of people were injured.
The English team will meet its Dutch counterpart on Wednesday evening, in a match described as "fiery" in the semifinals of the current edition of the 2024 European Cup of Nations, which is currently being held in Germany.