Crystal Palace supporters were attacked in Leipzig just 24 hours before the Conference League final. The travelling fans gathered in the city centre to celebrate the highly anticipated match against Rayo Vallecano when an organised group suddenly launched an ambush that required police intervention.
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On Tuesday, a viral footage on social media showed a group of men dressed in black charging at Palace supporters who gathered outside a bar. The attackers, who appeared well-organised in black attires, launched chairs and glassware at the travelling fans, forcing them to scramble for cover. Some Palace fans were seen retaliating by throwing furniture back at the group, which turned the scene into a battlefield.
Law enforcement officers finally managed to intervene in the situation, with approximately 50 to 60 individuals arrested for being primary instigators of the trouble. The identities of the attackers remain unconfirmed, but mounting speculations suggest they could be from Rayo or FC Lokomotive Leipzig. Leipzig supporters are reportedly famously known for wearing similar black attire.
Earlier in the day, fans from both Palace and Rayo had been seen mingling peacefully, with both sets of supporters desperate to see their side lift a first-ever major European trophy on Wednesday night.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace had endured a difficult Conference League path to Leipzig despite an outstanding success last season. The Eagles won the FA Cup and qualified for the Europe League. However, CAS upheld their ban from the competition due to UEFA’s strict multi-club ownership regulations. As a result, Nottingham Forest took their place, while Palace were demoted to the Conference League.
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However, Palace is set to lift the club’s first ever European title. But the Eagles will have to overcome Rayo Vallecano to become the third English side to lift the trophy after Chelsea and West Ham.
