Police arrested 25 fans before Leeds’ pre-season friendly

‘In front of the stadium, runaway Leeds fans were again attacked by the Frankfurt fans’

Several people were injured, and the Policemade 25 arrests ahead of Leeds’ pre-season friendly. Photograph: EPA
Several people were injured, and the Policemade 25 arrests ahead of Leeds’ pre-season friendly. Photograph: EPA

Police arrested a total of 25 fans on Tuesday night following crowd trouble before and after Leeds' 2-1 friendly defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Austrian town of Eugendorf.

Three Leeds supporters and two police officers were injured after fighting between rival fans at the final whistle, while riot police were deployed during violent scenes in Salzburg and Eugendorf before kick-off.

Supporters from both clubs were arrested, 17 of which were from Frankfurt, after confrontations between the rival fans on the pitch at full-time.

epa04856204 A photograph made available on 22 July 2015 showing fans on the pitch during disturbances between fans from British soccer club Leeds United and German soccer club Eintracht Frankfurt in Eugendorf, Salzburg, Austria 21 July 2015. Several people were injured, and the Policemade 25 arrests. EPA/NEUMAYR/MMV
epa04856204 A photograph made available on 22 July 2015 showing fans on the pitch during disturbances between fans from British soccer club Leeds United and German soccer club Eintracht Frankfurt in Eugendorf, Salzburg, Austria 21 July 2015. Several people were injured, and the Policemade 25 arrests. EPA/NEUMAYR/MMV

Pepper spray was used to control a group of Frankfurt fans following trouble in Eugendorf town centre after the game, Salzburg police have confirmed.

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Before the game about 50 Frankfurt fans stormed the stadium entrance, injuring security staff.

Fighting on the pitch after the game spilled over into the square in front of the stadium where mounted police are reported to have intervened.

A police statement read: “At the square in front of the stadium, runaway Leeds fans were again attacked by the Frankfurt fans.

“Eventually the situation moved to the centre of Eugendorf where action was taken to stop the attacks, among other things a pepper-spray operation by the police.”

It was also reported that police had been forced to intervene earlier in the day after around 50 Frankfurt fans had refused to pay the bus fare following their journey from Salzburg to Eugendorf.

Salzburg police have not confirmed the severity of any of the injuries caused.

Leeds had arrived in Eugendorf at the weekend for a week-long training camp and will now head to Norway for a friendly game against another Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim, in Lillestrom on Saturday.