Two arrested after Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans clash ahead of Conference League final

Local police say two arrests were made and two police officers sustained minor injuries after Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano supporters clashed in Leipzig ahead of Wednesday’s Conference League final.

The incident occurred in the city centre late on Tuesday evening at around 8pm, a day ahead of the final at the RB Arena.

Thousands of fans from both clubs have travelled to the German city with both Palace and Rayo in their first European final.

Saxon State Police reports more than 300 people were involved in the clashes, with 60 later held for processing and verification of their identities on suspicion of a breach of the peace before being dispersed after several hours.

Palace fans sitting outside restaurants in the centre were met by Rayo fans, with police describing bottles, beer glasses and pub furniture being thrown between the two groups.

The clashes were brief as police quickly intervened to separate the two sets of supporters but local police say they were attacked in the process as projectiles were thrown, injuring two officers.

“A group of risk fans of the club Crystal Palace moved up to the area of the Penguin Eisbar,” a police statement said, also adding that “risk fans” from the Spanish side had been involved. “The 60 people provoked passing Spanish fans and were then promptly surrounded by forces of the Federal Police.”

Large groups of Palace and Rayo fans did also mix without issue, chanting and signing together outside bars and restaurants near the market square and the dedicated fanzone, with police saying it was “consistently peaceful” with over 2,000 fans present.

Rayo, who finished eighth in La Liga, have never won a major trophy while Palace, who recorded a 15th-place finish in this season’s Premier League, are hopeful of further success after last year’s FA Cup win.