Football fans clash in Budapest ahead of Champions League final
Football fans clashed on Király Street in Budapest at around 00:20 ahead of the Champions League final, prompting a criminal investigation for violent disorder.
Nearly 34,000 additional fans are anticipated to converge on Budapest, intensifying the risk of further disorder amid policing and crowd management challenges.
“Several supporters became involved in a fight at around 00:20 on Király Street,” confirmed the Budapest Police Headquarters, addressing the violent clashes ahead of the Champions League final.
Fans clash in Budapest ahead of Champions League final
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Football fans clashed in central Budapest overnight ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final between last year’s winners Paris Saint-Germain and newly crowned English champions Arsenal, local police said.
According to a statement from the Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK), several supporters became involved in a fight at around 00:20 on Király Street in the city’s 7th district.
The 7th District Police Station has opened a criminal case against unnamed individuals for violent disorder.
Officers are also reviewing CCTV footage and are working to identify others who were involved.
Video footage posted to social media appeared to show PSG and Arsenal fans throwing punches as flares go off down the street.
For the final, which kicks off at 18:00 on Saturday, each side was allocated 17,000 tickets, but according to information from the Hungarian police, tens of thousands of extra fans are expected to arrive in Budapest without tickets.