The number of police officers injured in football fan violence in Tirana last night has risen to 20, as videos emerged of crowds of drunken revellers running through the streets.
Some 100,000 Italian Roma and Dutch Feyenoord fans have descended on the Albanian capital for the final of the conference which takes place on Wednesday night. Tuesday night was marred by many incidences of violence between brawling fans. A police car was smashed, fans threw chairs at each other, and locals were assaulted.
Previously, 10 officers were reported as injured although this number has risen to 20 according to journalist at the Trauma Hospital. In addition, around 60 were arrested and 30 sent for medical treatment.
Dozens fans were arrested last night, and some 70 of them were returned home by the police in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Prince Leka commented that it was “pure chaos” and “most of them are probably having a good time, but Albanian police have been taken to hospital.”
Shocked: #Clash in #Tirana #Albania with AS #Roma and #Feyenoord supporters with police last night before the #EuropaConferenceLeague Final, Italian and Dutch hooligans have been arrested. #UCLfinal #football #AirAlbania #madrid #UCL #RMFans @realmadriden #ASRoma #police pic.twitter.com/RwfbTPoPFT
— Vineet Sharma (@Vineetsharma906) May 25, 2022
He added that “this is new for Albania. We only have noisy crowds at political demonstrations. Football is normally a family issue here.”
The US Embassy has warned citizens to avoid the centre of Tirana due to the large number of fans that could cause unrest. The Dutch Embassy confirmed that 12 citizens had been arrested.
Central areas of the capital will remain closed to all traffic and will maintain a significant police presence.
10 Police Injured, 60 Fans Arrested Ahead of Conference League Final in Tirana
