An England fan and a police officer were left with head injuries on Sunday (Jun 16) after hooligans attacked a bar where Serbia supporters were drinking before their team's Euro 2024 opening match against the Three Lions, scheduled for later in the evening.&nbsp;

Pictures of the English fan with a bloodied head in the German city of Gelsenkirchen went viral on social media while video clips showed the two factions fighting each other by hurling tables, chairs and other objects.&nbsp;

According to a report in the Guardian,&nbsp;the incident took place shortly after 3:30 pm local time where Serbian fans, outside the bar were targeted with projectiles. Other media reports claimed that&nbsp;Serbia's arch-rivals Albania and its hooded supporters launched the attack, claiming to be English fans.&nbsp;

The perpetrators of the violence fled the scene as soon as&nbsp;about 200 German riot police arrived.

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England and Serbia fans clashing in the streets of Gelsenkirchen. 
 
😨 <a href="https://t.co/SljpQLySRU">pic.twitter.com/SljpQLySRU</a>
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBAwayDays/status/1802347596666568900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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English fans attacked Serbian fans at a cafe in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, before Serbia takes on England today in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EURO2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EURO2024</a>. 
 
The result? 
 
The English fans quickly learned the meaning of “FAFO” as they had to scatter down the street like rats. <a href="https://t.co/RLqS9UYg1z">pic.twitter.com/RLqS9UYg1z</a>
— Aleks Djuricic (@AleksDjuricic) <a href="https://twitter.com/AleksDjuricic/status/1802356699904307322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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(TRIGGER WARNING: The below-mentioned media might be triggering for some. Please proceed at your own caution)

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Fights have broken out between groups of England and Serbia fans. 
 
Please stay safe out there if you are in the Gelsenkirchen area. 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇷🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EURO2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EURO2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/dTK1hckftP">pic.twitter.com/dTK1hckftP</a>
— Euro 24 Hub (@Euro24Hub) <a href="https://twitter.com/Euro24Hub/status/1802346868132782168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The unfortunate incident took place despite security being heightened after intel reports indicated that a squad of 500 Serbian hooligans might attempt to engage in a violent confrontation with the English supporters.

As many as 40,000 English fans are expected to have arrived in the city for the match while between 5,000 to 8,000 Serbian supporters have also made the journey for the match which will be played at the Veltins Arena -&nbsp;home to Bundesliga 2 club Schalke.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-500-serbians-to-engage-in-violence-at-englands-first-match-in-germany-report-730573">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: 500 Serbians to engage in violence at England's first match in Germany - Report</a>

<h2>Axe-wielding attacker shot</h2>

Earlier in the day, an axe-wielding man was shot by the German police in the&nbsp;Reeperbahn district of Hamburg before the Netherlands vs Poland match.&nbsp;

The area where almost 40,000 Dutch fans had gathered was subsequently cleared around 12:30 p.m. CET (6:30 am ET) before the security agencies shot the attacker.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-axe-wielding-man-shot-by-german-police-ahead-of-poland-vs-netherlands-match-732261">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man shot by German police ahead of Poland vs Netherlands match</a>

Police said the man was also carrying an incendiary device, probably some kind of Molotov cocktail. The media reports said police used pepper spray against the attacker before deploying a firearm.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

An England fan and a police officer were left with head injuries on Sunday (Jun 16) after hooligans attacked a bar where Serbia supporters were drinking before their team's Euro 2024 opening match against the Three Lions, scheduled for later in the evening.

An England fan and a police officer were left with head injuries on Sunday (Jun 16) after hooligans attacked a bar where Serbia supporters were drinking before their team's Euro 2024 opening match against the Three Lions, scheduled for later in the evening. Pictures of the English fan with a bloodied head in the German city of Gelsenkirchen went viral on social media while video clips showed the two factions fighting each other by hurling tables, chairs and other objects. According to a report in the Guardian, the incident took place shortly after 3:30 pm local time where Serbian fans, outside the bar were targeted with projectiles. Other media reports claimed that Serbia's arch-rivals Albania and its hooded supporters launched the attack, claiming to be English fans. The perpetrators of the violence fled the scene as soon as about 200 German riot police arrived. England and Serbia fans clashing in the streets of Gelsenkirchen. 😨 pic.twitter.com/SljpQLySRU — Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) June 16, 2024 × English fans attacked Serbian fans at a cafe in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, before Serbia takes on England today in #EURO2024. The result? The English fans quickly learned the meaning of “FAFO” as they had to scatter down the street like rats. pic.twitter.com/RLqS9UYg1z — Aleks Djuricic (@AleksDjuricic) June 16, 2024 × (TRIGGER WARNING: The below-mentioned media might be triggering for some. Please proceed at your own caution) Fights have broken out between groups of England and Serbia fans. Please stay safe out there if you are in the Gelsenkirchen area. 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇷🇸#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/dTK1hckftP — Euro 24 Hub (@Euro24Hub) June 16, 2024 × The unfortunate incident took place despite security being heightened after intel reports indicated that a squad of 500 Serbian hooligans might attempt to engage in a violent confrontation with the English supporters. As many as 40,000 English fans are expected to have arrived in the city for the match while between 5,000 to 8,000 Serbian supporters have also made the journey for the match which will be played at the Veltins Arena - home to Bundesliga 2 club Schalke. Also read | Euro 2024: 500 Serbians to engage in violence at England's first match in Germany - Report Axe-wielding attacker shot Earlier in the day, an axe-wielding man was shot by the German police in the Reeperbahn district of Hamburg before the Netherlands vs Poland match. The area where almost 40,000 Dutch fans had gathered was subsequently cleared around 12:30 p.m. CET (6:30 am ET) before the security agencies shot the attacker. Also read | Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man shot by German police ahead of Poland vs Netherlands match Police said the man was also carrying an incendiary device, probably some kind of Molotov cocktail. The media reports said police used pepper spray against the attacker before deploying a firearm. (With inputs from agencies)

Euro 2024: Violent clashes erupt in German city hours before England vs Serbia match

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Wednesday urged European football to "eliminate the cancer" of hooliganism.&nbsp;

Ceferin was speaking in Athens in the wake of last week's fatal stabbing of a fan ahead of a Champions League qualifier.

"The problem of violence and hooliganism is not just Greek, it is European," he told a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.&nbsp;

"I call on everyone at a European level to eliminate this cancer", he added.&nbsp;

AEK Athens fan Michalis Katsouris, 29, died after being stabbed during violent clashes on the eve of Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb's qualifier at AEK near the Greek club's stadium in Nea Filadelfia, a western suburb of Athens.

Last Tuesday's match was then postponed by UEFA until 19 August.

"We will do everything in our power to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again," said Ceferin.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-needs-to-be-more-aggressive-kapil-dev-advises-indian-captain-cites-bazballs-example-626012">Rohit Sharma needs to be more aggressive: Kapil Dev advises Indian captain, cites Bazball's example</a>

On Sunday, the Greek courts charged 105 people with involvement in the incidents and remanded them in custody. The accused include 102 Croatians, suspected of being linked to the Bad Blue Boys, a Dinamo Zagreb ultra group.

"The guilty parties will be found and punished for this murder," said the Greek prime minister, who also called for a "European mechanism to tackle violence in stadiums and punish it effectively."

Mitsotakis also emphasised that he had agreed with the four chairmen of the main Greek clubs that "the police should operate in the stadiums and be able to control entry".&nbsp;

"But violence is not just in the stadiums, it is also on the streets, and we need to fight it collectively", he added.&nbsp;

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UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Wednesday urged European football to "eliminate the cancer" of hooliganism. Ceferin was speaking in Athens in the wake of last week's fatal stabbing of a fan ahead of a Champions League qualifier.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Wednesday urged European football to "eliminate the cancer" of hooliganism. Ceferin was speaking in Athens in the wake of last week's fatal stabbing of a fan ahead of a Champions League qualifier. "The problem of violence and hooliganism is not just Greek, it is European," he told a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "I call on everyone at a European level to eliminate this cancer", he added. AEK Athens fan Michalis Katsouris, 29, died after being stabbed during violent clashes on the eve of Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb's qualifier at AEK near the Greek club's stadium in Nea Filadelfia, a western suburb of Athens. Last Tuesday's match was then postponed by UEFA until 19 August. "We will do everything in our power to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again," said Ceferin. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma needs to be more aggressive: Kapil Dev advises Indian captain, cites Bazball's example On Sunday, the Greek courts charged 105 people with involvement in the incidents and remanded them in custody. The accused include 102 Croatians, suspected of being linked to the Bad Blue Boys, a Dinamo Zagreb ultra group. "The guilty parties will be found and punished for this murder," said the Greek prime minister, who also called for a "European mechanism to tackle violence in stadiums and punish it effectively." Mitsotakis also emphasised that he had agreed with the four chairmen of the main Greek clubs that "the police should operate in the stadiums and be able to control entry". "But violence is not just in the stadiums, it is also on the streets, and we need to fight it collectively", he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin says football must 'eliminate cancer' of hooliganism

A week after England and Russia supporters clashed, and while flare-throwing and fighting have marred games elsewhere, fans of Iceland say they prefer hugs to hooliganism at Euro 2016. 
 
Having the time of their lives, Icelanders told AFP in Marseille they have come to their first ever European Championships to have fun and feel part of Europe. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m not sure life can get any better, it&#39;s historic, great to be here,&quot; Louise Ragnarsdottir told AFP on the seafront of the southern city.&nbsp;&quot;All my life I watched the tournaments on TV, now we are part of Europe&#39;s party!&quot; said the 28-year-old accountant from Reykjavik. 
 
Some 27,000 Iceland fans have travelled to France, almost 10 per cent of the Nordic island&#39;s 330,000-strong population. No smaller country has ever featured at a Euro finals. 
 
&quot;We live on a faraway island, just to go abroad at all is an experience,&quot; said Ragnarsdottir. 
 
After the Group F tie with Hungary on Saturday pockets of Iceland fans gathered in Marseille&#39;s Vieux Port district to chant &quot;Boom-Boom-Hoooo!&quot;, leaping in unison on the &quot;Hoooo!&quot;. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s our Viking song, synchronised and terrifying,&quot; laughed Arni Gardar, an IT consultant from Reykjavik. 
 
&quot;But we don&#39;t mean to be scary, we are good Vikings not marauders, actually very nice, we come in peace,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;Iceland is N-Iceland!&quot; cried another fan, Jonina Unnur Gunnarsdottir. 
 
&nbsp;&#39;Best fans yet&#39; 
 
&quot;They are the best fans we have seen yet,&quot; said Karim, a cafe owner watching the revelry on the Quai des Belges. &quot;It was different last week,&quot; he recalled. 
 
Nearly a week ago England and Russia fans conducted pitched battles in the worst violence at a football tournament since the 1998 World Cup, prompting police to respond with tear gas and baton charges. 
 
For fans of the Nordic minnows the Euro 2016 violence has been an eye-opening experience. 
 
&quot;We are a peaceful nation, we have no army, no guns, we&#39;re just not into fighting,&quot; Atli Gudmundsson told AFP. &quot;At home families go to football, no-one dreams of ever causing trouble.&quot; 
 
The 29-year-old attended the Croatia-Czech Republic tie in Saint Etienne on Friday where Croatian fans fought among themselves and lit flares, forcing a temporary stoppage in play. 
 
&quot;Torches on the pitch, fighting in the stands, that kind of thing is new to us, it was quite shocking to see,&quot; he said. 
 
&#39;Share the love&#39;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We just want to hug people, I mean come on, just share the love,&quot; said his friend Daniel Ma&#39;sson. 
 
Hungary brought some 20,000 fans to the game in Marseille. Some scuffled with security guards before the game and threw flares on the pitch. 
 
All the tension was on the other side of the pitch,&quot; Elisabet Thorisdottir told AFP. 
 
&quot;The Hungarians were a little bit aggressive, but very passionate. We had no problem with them or anyone else.&quot; 
 
Around 10,000 Iceland fans were also in the Stade Velodrome and the two sets of fans produced a raucous atmosphere, the Scandinavians holding their own with renditions of &quot;Boom-Boom-Hoooo&quot;. 
 
And leading 1-0 with two minutes to go Iceland were on the brink of a fairytale win to follow the 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo&#39;s Portugal on their European Championships debut. 
 
Then two minutes from the end an own goal by Birkir Savarsson crushed their dreams. 
 
&quot;The Portugal 1-1 draw was like a win, but the Hungary 1-1 felt like a defeat,&quot; said Iceland fan Bjarni Mak Johanntsson. 
 
But for a country that just four years ago was ranked 131st in the world, their fans will enjoy the rest of Euro 2016 no matter whatever happens in the final group game against Austria in the Stade de France on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re the small guys, always overlooked,&quot; said Hdortur Bjarnason. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s just good to be noticed for once. Europe, we will be back!&quot; he said, punching the air. 
(AFP)

Almost 10% of all Icelanders have come to their first-ever European Championships to have fun

A week after England and Russia supporters clashed, and while flare-throwing and fighting have marred games elsewhere, fans of Iceland say they prefer hugs to hooliganism at Euro 2016. Having the time of their lives, Icelanders told AFP in Marseille they have come to their first ever European Championships to have fun and feel part of Europe. "I'm not sure life can get any better, it's historic, great to be here," Louise Ragnarsdottir told AFP on the seafront of the southern city. "All my life I watched the tournaments on TV, now we are part of Europe's party!" said the 28-year-old accountant from Reykjavik. Some 27,000 Iceland fans have travelled to France, almost 10 per cent of the Nordic island's 330,000-strong population. No smaller country has ever featured at a Euro finals. "We live on a faraway island, just to go abroad at all is an experience," said Ragnarsdottir. After the Group F tie with Hungary on Saturday pockets of Iceland fans gathered in Marseille's Vieux Port district to chant "Boom-Boom-Hoooo!", leaping in unison on the "Hoooo!". "It's our Viking song, synchronised and terrifying," laughed Arni Gardar, an IT consultant from Reykjavik. "But we don't mean to be scary, we are good Vikings not marauders, actually very nice, we come in peace," he said. "Iceland is N-Iceland!" cried another fan, Jonina Unnur Gunnarsdottir. 'Best fans yet' "They are the best fans we have seen yet," said Karim, a cafe owner watching the revelry on the Quai des Belges. "It was different last week," he recalled. Nearly a week ago England and Russia fans conducted pitched battles in the worst violence at a football tournament since the 1998 World Cup, prompting police to respond with tear gas and baton charges. For fans of the Nordic minnows the Euro 2016 violence has been an eye-opening experience. "We are a peaceful nation, we have no army, no guns, we're just not into fighting," Atli Gudmundsson told AFP. "At home families go to football, no-one dreams of ever causing trouble." The 29-year-old attended the Croatia-Czech Republic tie in Saint Etienne on Friday where Croatian fans fought among themselves and lit flares, forcing a temporary stoppage in play. "Torches on the pitch, fighting in the stands, that kind of thing is new to us, it was quite shocking to see," he said. 'Share the love' "We just want to hug people, I mean come on, just share the love," said his friend Daniel Ma'sson. Hungary brought some 20,000 fans to the game in Marseille. Some scuffled with security guards before the game and threw flares on the pitch. All the tension was on the other side of the pitch," Elisabet Thorisdottir told AFP. "The Hungarians were a little bit aggressive, but very passionate. We had no problem with them or anyone else." Around 10,000 Iceland fans were also in the Stade Velodrome and the two sets of fans produced a raucous atmosphere, the Scandinavians holding their own with renditions of "Boom-Boom-Hoooo". And leading 1-0 with two minutes to go Iceland were on the brink of a fairytale win to follow the 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal on their European Championships debut. Then two minutes from the end an own goal by Birkir Savarsson crushed their dreams. "The Portugal 1-1 draw was like a win, but the Hungary 1-1 felt like a defeat," said Iceland fan Bjarni Mak Johanntsson. But for a country that just four years ago was ranked 131st in the world, their fans will enjoy the rest of Euro 2016 no matter whatever happens in the final group game against Austria in the Stade de France on Wednesday. "We're the small guys, always overlooked," said Hdortur Bjarnason. "It's just good to be noticed for once. Europe, we will be back!" he said, punching the air. (AFP)

'Nice' Iceland fans prefer hugs to hooliganism

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