The meeting between Lens and PSV Eindhoven’s Tuesday Champions League clash at the Bollaert Stadium was marked by clashes in Lens city center and projectiles being thrown between fans at half-time. At the end of the fight, an interim report from the prefecture reported 24 injuries due to drunkenness and beatings and one arrest for damage to a police vehicle.
More than two hours before kick-off in this match on the third day of the Champions League group stage, the first clashes occurred as more than 200 fans of the Dutch club began to move into the city centre. Incidents broke out between the police and the Dutch ultras, with the police using tear gas to disperse the speeding supporters in the face of projectiles and smoke bombs.
Escorted from Plaça del Cantin, where a “fanzone” is organized on the nights of Champions League matches in Lens, they left in a police procession along Victor-Hugo Street. On Émile-Basly Boulevard, the police dispersed the ultras with tear gas for the first time. Then near the stadium where the clashes broke out.
The hooligans were accompanied by mounted police, motorized brigades and plainclothes police. CRS accompanied them until they entered the stadium amid boos from the Lens fans. Calm has returned to the streets of Lens, less than an hour before the start of the match, the Pas de Calais prefecture announced.
But at half-time, Dutch fans threw chairs and smoke bombs at Lens fans in the Trannin stand, AFP journalists confirmed. Lens fans threw beer glasses, before CRS arrived at the Dutch stadium, before 10 pm, and the continuation of the second half.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
