Man City issue a statement with some of their fans hospitalised after being attacked before the Champions League match in Belgrade.
Around 20 City fans were allegedly ambushed and beaten up before being hospitalised on Tuesday night after a group were set upon in a bar.
Serbian newspaper Telegraf state that the attack took place at around 11pm with 30 masked people involved, with the suspected attackers believed to be supporters of Red Star Belgrade.
Reports claim that the injured fans had been released now with only minor injuries but there are extra safety measures hours leading up to game.
Man City say they’re working with local police for the clash against Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade), after many fans of the Sky Blues club made the trip over the day before, only to be attacked by men in balaclavas wielding sticks.
Looks pretty dicey for those Manchester City fans out in Belgrade. 😨
To all fans that have travelled, please stay safe. 🙏 #MCFC pic.twitter.com/Oy1BT9Q5KI
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) December 13, 2023
City fans getting attacked by Red Star hooligans in a Belgrade pub last night… 🇷🇸🏴👊 pic.twitter.com/6MNPweqArJ
— Football Fights (@footbalIfights) December 13, 2023
13.12.2023, Delije🇷🇸 attack Manchester City🏴 in Belgrade. Manchester City was inside a pub https://t.co/Fjy3xrlEmQ pic.twitter.com/GSbU8cBQzj
— Hooligans.cz Official (@hooliganscz1999) December 13, 2023
City also introduced buses to take supporters to and from the stadium for the match on Wednesday.
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.”
The current Champions League title holders after gearing up for matchday six of their group stage campaign, hoping to retain a 100% winning record in this season’s segment of the tournament.
The last time these two faced each other, Man City came back from 1-0 down at half time to go on and win 3-1 thanks to a brace from Julian Alvarez and a Rodri strike.
However, as Pep Guardiola and his players are in for a hostile atmosphere out in Belgrade, and unfortunately we’re already seeing just in the build-up to the contest that there has been some trouble, with the travelling fans on the end of a disgraceful attack.
Man City already issued a safety warning over travel to the stadium ahead of the game, ‘strongly advising’ fans to use provided transport from Student Square.
“We have arranged coaches leaving Student Square at 3:30PM (local time) to safely transport all our fans to and from the Rajko Mitic Stadium. We strongly advise all fans use this mode of transport,” Manchester City supporters have been told.
“Local police advise that all our fans avoid displaying club branded items or colours, and an email has been shared with you containing further travel and safety advice.”
Local police in Belgrade have advised all #ManCity fans to avoid displaying club branded items or colours en route to the Rajko Mitić Stadium this evening, after around 20 @ManCity supporters were attacked in a bar on Tuesday night.https://t.co/x8jmmQcKY8
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 13, 2023
This is how Twitter users reacted as Man City issue statement with fans hospitalised after being attacked before the match in Belgrade…
@retro_villa: There’s a young City lad out there outnumbered on his own getting constantly battered, I hope he got out of this 😧
@iloveidpol: Cowards have got sticks and cosh’s
@a779457: UEFA need to start kicking these teams out of their competitions
@ManCityPal: Wankers had to use bats can’t wait to get them at home again – in the hotels and giving it them shit houses
@gberesford__: Oh my god. I hope everyone is staying safe out there.
@CR10Rafty: Get home safely 👍
@troyboy621: What a sad world we live in
@Alex_17720: No one was in colours last night, in a bar about 200m from a heavily policed political demonstration, and yet that still didn’t stop them. It’s not about fans wearing colours, it’s about the police actually doing their job.
@a779457: Joke this. Shouldn’t have to worry about this type of stuff following your team.
@JessCashman10: Imagine being told to avoid displaying the club you support
@mcfc_Savio: Why is this hatred and beating is required in football? Let everyone enjoy football in Peace.
@Liam_J20: They’re wild. Went a few years ago when we played partizan. Luckily we had big numbers as, Belgrade was the last place busby babes played before they died so was sentimental. We stood together in no less than hundreds and still faced trouble. If there’s only 3-4 of you be careful
@CityzenAlex: Why anyone would even bother is beyond me. Game literally means nothing, and Belgrade is hardly The Ritz 🤷🏽♂️ Compete waste of time and money
@connor_mh: Another English team getting attacked again, my shock
@apgloria: European football is pointless now, just an excuse to make Money for the clubs, and trouble for the fans 🤬
@_omeara_r: Belgrade is an amazing city but fair fucks to anyone brave enough to do an away day there. Went to a Red Star game in February that was home fans only and there were still people fighting
@Foley1895: Fuck me that geezer got absolutely pummelled
@cockney_yid: Blokes sitting there drinking pints & filming while their own get weighed in 🤦♂️
@bigalgriff62: If this was in London, Manchester or Liverpool we would be banned from Europe within days 🙄🙄
@OscarCa15837513: There are some places you should just not go too. It’s just a a game of football FFS, it’s not worth dying for.
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