Chaos in Bilbao: Europe League Final Marked by Acts of Violence, Property Damage, and Theft
Bilbao, Spain experienced disorderly scenes and security issues during the Europa League final between British teams Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. The northern host city was struggling to manage the influx of approximately 80,000 fans, over double its typical capacity, leading to incidents of vandalism and violent confrontations.
Basque Government security minister Bingen Zupiria described the football final as the City's "greatest security challenge," as thousands of fans surged into Bilbao, exceeding the San Mamés Stadium's 53,000-seat capacity. To accommodate this surge, screens and refreshment areas were established throughout the city, backed by a massive security force consisting of 1,500 armed "Ertzaintza" police, hundreds of private security guards, and local agents.
Despite the significant efforts to maintain order, violent clashes and mass brawls erupted, with local media reporting instances of fires set in waste bins, destruction of street furniture and traffic lights, and multiple fights breaking out across the city. Not only fans but also local businesses were affected, with reports of tables being overturned and objects, such as chairs, being thrown at café terraces. Some establishments even had to close their doors due to the disturbances.
Even before the game, tensions were running high, with fans consuming excessive amounts of alcohol and treating the "beautiful and historic" city with disrespect. The following morning, locals found inebriated fans napping on the streets they marched through hours earlier, chanting and celebrating.
Initially, officials announced only seven arrests had been made in response to the chaos, later revised to eight arrests. All alleged perpetrators were foreigners, though their nationalities were not disclosed. The arrests were primarily related to violent clashes, property damage, disobedience, and assaulting police officers.
In addition to the violence, crime also plagued the event, with numerous instances of theft reported. Some Manchester United fans claimed they were "robbed" by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions throughout the match, which ended with a 1-0 victory for Tottenham Hotspur.
The chaos and security issues in Bilbao were largely attributed to a combination of logistical challenges, fan behavior, and economic pressures. With limited flight availability and rising travel and accommodation costs, many fans were strained financially. The city's infrastructure, including transportation and accommodation, was also overwhelmed, making crowd management difficult.
Although the disorder andotherrustration among residents, their sentiments were not fully reflected in official figures, with only eight arrests reported. The event, however, underscored the need for UEFA and host cities to better plan for large-scale finals, ensuring that both infrastructure and logistics can accommodate the expected numbers of visiting fans.
- Local authorities in Bilbao, Spain faced a significant security challenge during the Champions League football match between local European leagues teams, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, due to the city's struggle to manage the influx of approximately 80,000 fans, causing incidents of vandalism and violent confrontations.
- To accommodate the surge of fans, general-news of Bilbao established screens and refreshment areas throughout the city, backed by a massive security force consisting of armed police, private security guards, and local agents.
- Despite these efforts, crime and justice issues arose during the event, with numerous instances of theft reported, and some fans accusing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) of injustice, as they claimed they were "robbed" by VAR decisions.
- The chaos and subsequent frustrations experienced by locals were largely attributed to logistical challenges, fan behavior, and economic pressures, such as limited flight availability, rising travel and accommodation costs, and overwhelmed infrastructure, including transportation and accommodation, making crowd management difficult.
