A violent altercation erupted between fans of Turkey and Georgia inside Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion, the venue hosting their European Championship match on Tuesday. The brawl, which took place at ground level in a corner of the stadium, saw supporters throwing punches and objects at each other, with security personnel struggling to intervene in the pouring rain. The fighting only ceased when police officers clad in riot gear intervened, forming a thick line between the warring factions. Some officers remained positioned in the stairwell alongside Georgia fans, who later set off flares in the stands as they watched the match.
Despite the violent incident, there had been no signs of disorder earlier in the day, with fans from both nations mixing peacefully in Dortmund’s city center. The heavy rainfall, however, forced fans with seats in the lower levels of the stadium to seek shelter.
Interestingly, some fan zones across Germany remained closed on Tuesday due to the forecast of inclement weather. This match marked Georgia’s first ever appearance at a major soccer tournament. The two nations, who share a border stretching roughly 270 kilometers, have a history of shared culture and trade, making the sudden outbreak of violence even more surprising.
