Dramatic footage shows a violent clash breaking out between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur supporters in Spain, involving punches being thrown, ahead of the Europa League final.
Up to 70,000 fans from both Man Utd and Tottenham have descended upon the sunny streets of Bilbao, largely in high spirits and enjoying drinks.
However, the atmosphere took a negative turn in nearby San Sebastian, with video surfacing on X showing a fight between the two sets of supporters.
In the disturbing video, a large group identified as football hooligans are seen fighting, throwing objects and punches at each other.
Local residents alerted police around 9:20 PM after witnessing violent behaviour on Fermín Calbetón Street.
According to witnesses, the confrontation began when two large groups of fans started shouting and exchanging insults.
The situation rapidly escalated into a full-scale fight, with supporters from both Man Utd and Spurs grabbing whatever they could to throw.
One individual was seen flipping over a terrace table and using it as a weapon against the other group.
Various items, including drinks and rubbish bins, were thrown, creating a chaotic scene that endangered local businesses and passersby.
Multiple local police units were dispatched to the area following reports of the brawl and quickly managed to restore order.
While no arrests have been made so far, officers remained in the area to maintain control. An ambulance was also sent to the scene, with several people receiving medical attention.
Paramedics assessed several individuals but determined that none required transportation to the hospital.
This incident occurred as thousands of British fans arrived in Bilbao for the eagerly anticipated final.
Many opted for a long ferry journey exceeding 32 hours, which departed on Sunday evening and was scheduled to arrive on Tuesday morning.
Due to soaring flight costs, reaching over £1,000 after the Premier League teams secured their final spots, many took advantage of the more affordable sea travel option, costing around £260 for a cabin.
The limited number of direct flights from the UK to the Basque region`s main city also contributed to the high airfare prices.
Accommodation was also scarce, with only 65 hotels in Spain’s tenth largest city, resulting in them being fully booked for weeks.
Despite both clubs having vast global fanbases, only 14,000 tickets were allocated to each team, making it challenging for fans to secure a seat at the showpiece event.
Tickets for the final were reportedly selling on the black market for as much as £10,000 the previous night.
Examples included EasyJet fares exceeding £1,800 for a return flight from Gatwick to Bilbao the day of the match, while the most affordable hotels for Wednesday night were priced around £1,200.
However, fans who managed to secure tickets were also seen enjoying themselves.
One bar in Bilbao was packed with British supporters singing and drinking ahead of the anticipated final.
Tottenham fans were filmed greeting their team bus as it arrived in the city the day before the match.
Earlier footage showed fans arriving to fill the streets of Bilbao approximately 40 hours before kick-off.
Both sets of supporters were pictured marching through the streets, singing songs with beers in hand as they prepared for the Europa League final.
Fans Kick Off Celebrations Early
Even before midday in Bilbao on the day prior to the Europa League final between Manchester United and Spurs, the atmosphere was becoming lively.
One reporter arrived after a lengthy ferry journey from Portsmouth, and the immediate plan for many fellow fans was to find a pub for a well-deserved drink.
Many others near the San Mames stadium area had similar plans that morning.
Numerous fans undertook extensive journeys, including overnight stops, to manage the high costs, with direct flights exceeding £1,000.
Therefore, it`s understandable that many were already starting the celebrations, or at least the Bilbao part of them.
A Spurs fan named Gary, who faced a challenging journey, joked while enjoying a drink in the sun, “I`m just getting some practice in for tomorrow.”
The general atmosphere had been positive overall, with hopes that it would continue.
Reports suggested Tottenham fans might significantly outnumber United supporters, with an estimated 50,000 fans from both English sides expected to arrive.
One Spurs supporter humorously claimed they`d bought all flights from London to keep the `Reds` out.
Based on the visible presence of Spurs shirts, this joke seemed plausible.
