A man was detained at Manchester Airport and had his passport seized after being involved in a clash with fans prior to the England vs. Serbia match.
Hours before the kick-off, rival supporters threw chairs at each other outside a restaurant in Gelsenkirchen. Around 3:30 PM, around 200 German riot police restored order as bottles and glasses flew during the altercation.
On Monday, it was confirmed that an English fan was arrested upon returning to Manchester Airport. The 39-year-old from the Bolton area was detained by police under the Football Spectators Act of 1989 at Manchester Airport on Monday evening. His passport has been retained, and he is due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 18, for a civil football banning order hearing.
Officers at the scene suggested that the British were responsible for instigating the melee, although English fans blamed the Serbians. Later, authorities confirmed that six Serbians were arrested, with no British nationals taken into custody.
The focal point of the conflict was the Aleppo Restaurant on Aminstrasse, with broken glass, bottles, and debris scattered around the area just minutes after the incident. A source stated, “The only certainty at this stage is that English fans were definitely involved.”
