Man City fans hospitalised by stick-wielding balaclava-wearing Red Star Belgrade thugs
Manchester City have become the latest set of English fans in Europe to be targeted by thugs, with a number of supporters needing hospital treatment
Manchester City fans have been hospitalised after being attacked by stick-wielding Red Star Belgrade thugs.
Pep Guardiola’s side are in Belgrade for their final Champions League group stage match, already assured of top spot after five wins out of five. Many City supporters travelled to the Serbian capital the day before the match, with a small number reportedly being set upon by men in balaclavas wielding sticks.
The Manchester Evening News reports that “a few” travelling fans needed hospital treatment following the attack, but have now been discharged. The club said they were working with local police to ensure the safety of fans and have laid on buses to ferry supporters to the stadium.
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A club statement read: “Manchester City FC is concerned by the news of an attack on our travelling fans last night in Belgrade. We are working closely with the local police to provide additional safety advice and support to all fans attending this evening's match.”
It’s not the first time fans of English clubs have been targeted while travelling away in Europe this season. A Newcastle fan was stabbed in Milan while a bar containing Magpies supporters was attacked in Paris ahead of their side’s game against PSG.
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There was also trouble ahead of Brighton’s home game with Ajax in the Europa League, with both sets of fans clashing at Brighton train station. Footage went viral on social media of police doing their best to calm the sets of fans, with one of the officers ending up on the ground amid the ruckus. Other officers can be heard yelling “get back” as they tried to pick up fallen barriers that had been separating the sides.
Guardiola made nine changes to his side as City look to make it six wins out of six in the Champions League group phase for the first time.