Europa League fight night as police intervene in Belgium, France and Italy

January 23 – Police across Europe were kept busy on Thursday night as crowd trouble at three Europa League fixtures led to delays, injuries and police intervention before and during matches.

In Belgium, kick-off between Genk and Utrecht was delayed by 53 minutes after police evacuated more than 300 supporters from the away end at the Cegeka Arena shortly before the match was due to start.

According to the Belga news agency, officers stepped in over safety concerns after discovering that a group of Genk fans had entered the section without completing identity checks or security searches – a feat achieved by climbing over barriers according to local police. The removed fans were not permitted to re-enter the stadium, and the match eventually went ahead in front of a reduced crowd, with Genk winning 2–0.

In Italy, disorder was reported in Bologna hours before Celtic’s visit to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Italian media said police responded after around 100 Celtic supporters were involved in an incident near a shopping centre on Via Andrea Costa, with bottles reportedly thrown towards Bologna fans.

That disturbance occurred roughly two-and-a-half hours before kick-off and reportedly left multiple supporters injured, though authorities have not released official numbers. The tension spilled into a fractious match, which ended 2–2, with Celtic reduced to ten men. The result leaves the Scottish side hovering just above the elimination places in 24th position with one game remaining.

Nice’s meeting with Go Ahead Eagles was also briefly disrupted by home supporters charging towards the away section, prompting a ‘rapid response’ from riot police.

Order was only restored after officers positioned themselves inside the visiting end for the remainder of the game – which saw Nice secure a 3–1 victory, their first win of the current Europa League campaign.

The three incidents served as an unwelcome reminder of the operational pressures faced by local authorities on busy European matchdays, with security issues once again intruding on the competition’s on-field narrative.

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1769174231labto1769174231ofdlr1769174231owedi1769174231sni@g1769174231niwe.1769174231yrrah1769174231