Dortmund, Germany: Dortmund police said on Wednesday any football fans involved in the crowd trouble that marred Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League win over Galatasaray will be severely punished.
Two officers were injured, 21 arrests were made and some 700 Turkish fans are being investigated over their behaviour after Tuesday’s match was twice halted due to crowd disturbances.
Borussia Dortmund insist there were tight security checks, but 55 pyrotechnic items were later found on the terraces, which had been smuggled in by mainly Galatasaray fans.
Dortmund police are investigating allegations of attempted manslaughter, breach of the peace and possession of explosives after Galatasaray fans threw fireworks onto the pitch and into the Dortmund fan enclosure in two separate incidents.
“The police have made it very clear that we will show consistent law enforcement,” said police chief Gregor Lange at a press conference on Wednesday.
“We have to question whether the police were showed due respect in a very difficult situation. Lives were at risk.”
Lange said there were “criminal” elements at the game and the police have already started arresting those later identified to have been involved.
There was trouble before the game when a group of 1,000 Galatasaray fans set off fireworks while en route to the Westfalenstadion from Dortmund city centre.
Two officers were injured and several fans were taken into custody during the disturbance. After the match, riot police used batons and tear gas to prevent rival fans clashing.
Around 250 seats were destroyed by away fans during the trouble, which will cost Dortmund €30,000 to replace.
The 4-1 victory saw Dortmund qualify for the last 16 with two games to spare, but their coach Juergen Klopp said the trouble overshadowed the win and described the Galatasaray fans’ actions as “pure provocation”.
Galtasaray, who are bottom of the group, could face being punished as European football’s governing body Uefa are set to investigate.
