Dozens of hooded German supporters, some dressed as England fans, attacked a bar near Wembley Stadium before the game on Monday night, injuring five people.
The Three Lions hosted their old adversaries in the Nations League in their penultimate match before the World Cup begins in Qatar in mid-November. The game was a sell-out, with 90,000 people travelling to Wembley Stadium, many of whom went to surrounding bars before the 7:45pm kickoff.
Why German fans attacked the England fans?
The Green Man, the famous hangout for England fans and less than a mile from the stadium, was one such venue, with hundreds Cup fans having a pre-match drink on Monday evening.
However, the mood soured when a swarm of German fans invaded the pub, some disguised with England scarves and scarves. A frenzied battle broke out as witnesses ran for safety, according to video published on social media.
For a few minutes, violent confrontations erupted, involving perhaps 100 thugs, until mounted police officers came to disperse them.
The Met Police have already issued a statement confirming many arrests, however many of the perpetrators are believed to have fled down Wembley Hill, where at least two riot vans were dispatched.
The spokesperson’s statement reads, “At 5:50pm a group of approximately 100 males, many wearing masks, approached a pub in Dagmar Avenue, Wembley through an alley leading towards the car park. While a number of the group were wearing England hats and scarves, it is believed they were German fans”.
“The group entered the beer garden of the pub and began assaulting customers, most of whom were in the area to attend the England vs Germany match. Punches and projectiles including traffic cones were thrown Officers responded and the group fled”.
“The disorder lasted for around two minutes. A number of people sustained head and facial injuries. We are also aware of three people with serious leg, wrist and thumb injuries None of those injured are believed to be in a life-threatening condition. There have been four arrests so far in relation to the disorder”.
While paramedics were sent to the Green Man to treat the injured, other pubgoers cautiously finished their drinks before walking to the stadium. “One person was with the paramedics and remained unconscious when we left,” Robinson added, adding that the encounter had left his kid “petrified.”
