Tight security in German city where Serbia and England face off

STORY: :: Riot police cordon off a bar after scuffles erupted

ahead of Serbia and England’s opening Euro 2024 match

:: Gelsenkirchen, Germany

:: June 16, 2024

:: Nick Dawson, England fan

“It was tables going and we thought ‘Ah, here we go - English again.’ But for once it is not the English.”

:: The match is marked as ‘high risk’ as both

countries have a reputation for violent fans

Police in riot gear cordoned off the area around a restaurant that had a Serbia flag flying over the entry.

German police said they were investigating an incident but had no further information on who was involved.

British police said in a statement that their German colleagues “made a number of arrests” of what were believed “to be Serbian supporters”.

German riot police were also seen searching and escorting hundreds of fans as they were heading to the AufSchalke arena.

The Group C match between Serbia and England on Sunday evening was marked as “high risk” by the authorities as both countries have a reputation for violent fans and hooligans.