The German police have said there is “no evidence other groups were involved” in a fight that saw England and Serbia fans arrested before their Euro 2024 game yesterday.
Some media outlets claimed a violent brawl, which left several men bleeding heavily from the head and a local business significantly damaged, involving 'Albanians and Serbians'.
However, German police have now said these reports, in addition to claims by an Albanian-Macedonian Ultra group called Shvercerat that the attack was a 'joint action' with England fans, are not currently supported by any evidence. Only Serbian and England fans were involved, they say.
Responding to questions from the Express the Gelsenkirchen Police said who and what sparked the carnage pre-game was still “under investigation.”
Following the disorder the police force said it believed around 150 people were involved in the fighting but only one England fan and seven Serbian supporters have been charged.
Asked if legal proceedings against more people could be brought, a spokesperson said: “The investigations are ongoing. The existing video material is also being evaluated.”
Given the low number of arrests and based on incidents witnessed by the Express where fans violently attacked each other without being detained we asked the department whether there was a strategy of applying a deliberate soft touch.
The spokesperson responded: “The police take action based on a specific situation assessment in each individual case.
“The objectives are to prevent danger to life and limb and to prosecute criminal offences.
“Wherever it is tactically possible, suspects will be arrested in order to bring them to criminal proceedings.”
Although there were incidents of violence before the game, the force told the Express it believed the strategies employed to deal with problems were effective.
“The Gelsenkirchen police are drawing a positive conclusion,” the spokesperson added.
“Despite the match being classified as a high-risk match, the mood in the city was predominantly peaceful, many fans celebrated exuberantly without causing trouble.”
Should England top their group, the Three Lions will return to Gelsenkirchen for the second round.
But the local police would not be drawn on whether there would be any alterations to the tactics it used to handle them.
“The police tactics in each situation are based on the specific information available for the respective match,” they said.