Champions League: twelve PSG supporters arrested to avoid a brawl with Real Sociedad fans

A brawl between the two groups of supporters was narrowly avoided. MAXPPP – FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

Twelve PSG supporters "claiming to be ultra-right" were arrested Tuesday evening in Paris by the police who suspected them of wanting to attack fans of the Spanish club Real Sociedad, AFP learned this Wednesday February 14 from a police source.

A risk of confrontation between the supporters of the two clubs, who face each other on Wednesday evening in the round of 16 first leg of the Football Champions League, had been identified by the intelligence directorate of the police headquarters (DRPP) at the Forum des Halles, in the heart of the capital.

Concealed faces, shell gloves, pyrotechnic devices…

Police officers, notably Brav-M bikers, first spotted around 10:30 p.m. "a group of around fifty Spanish supporters" gathered in a pub in the 1st arrondissement, “in peace”, according to the police source.

Shortly afterwards, in a street in the 6th arrondissement located a few minutes' walk away, the police checked a group of twelve men.

"These were Parisian supporters claiming to be ultra-right, wearing black neck warmers hiding their faces, gloves shells, pyrotechnic devices", according to the same source.

They were arrested and placed in police custody "for participation in a group with the aim of committing violence or damage", it was added.

An investigation was opened and entrusted to the judicial night processing service (STJN), concluded the police source.