Germany, massive brawl between 300 ultras after Schalke-Breda: police charge with truncheons

Massive brawl in Gelsenkirchen. German law enforcement reported that “another escalation line was crossed” when they had to deal with a huge brawl between about 300 ultras of the local club Schalke 04 and the Dutch team NAC Breda after a friendly match between the two teams. In a statement, local police said officers used batons to break up the brawls. Several people were injured but had fled the scene before ambulances arrived.

Some ultras have been identified and investigations are underway for breach of the peace, grievous bodily harm and offences against explosives laws. “If the police now also have to protect so-called ‘friendly matches’ with massive police forces, another line of escalation has been crossed,” said the police director, Peter Both. Now local authorities and law enforcement will consider where Schalke will play future friendly matches: Wednesday’s match was not played in Schalke’s stadium, but in the old facility, the Parkstadion.