A woman was rushed to hospital and a man was knocked unconscious after hundreds congregated on Watford town centre after England’s defeat in the Euro 2020 final.
Hertfordshire Constabulary estimates that around 400 people gathered in the town centre after the Three Lions’ agonising penalty shootout at Wembley.
The large crowd at Watford led to 30 reported incidents, including a series of fights and violent actions.
One of these included a police van being damaged after a crowd of youths lashed out at officers and began to kick the van in anger.
According to the force, other alarming incidents included a woman that was taken to hospital after being injured by flying glass, and a man who was knocked unconscious.
The force said they were also busy due to other incidents across the county, including two injuries in Hatfield and disturbances in North Herts.
Chief Inspector David Partridge, who led the constabulary’s policing response to Euro 2020, said: “As per previous fixtures throughout the tournament, there was a substantial policing operation in place across Hertfordshire for last night’s Euro 2020 final and we worked closely with our partners and licensed premises to ensure everyone enjoyed the game safely.
“It was very busy compared with the previous England fixture and while the majority of fans acted in a responsible manner, sadly there were a few people who let the side down. We had 30 reported incidents throughout the evening, with five arrests.
- MORE: Footage of angry fans lashing out at police after England loss
- WATCH: Fans cheer Southgate as he leaves The Grove in Watford
“While we fully understand the disappointment that many people will have felt, there is absolutely no excuse for this kind of behaviour. Follow up enquiries are being conducted at this time and those involved will be dealt with accordingly.”
It comes after police praised the behaviour of fans who celebrated in Watford last Wednesday after the Denmark semi-final victory.
Before the final match there was a buzzing atmosphere in the town centre, as fans were optimistic that England could win the game.
There were occasional large groups and loud chants, but they were all good natured.
Things took a turn post-match quite quickly, as many disappointed fans left pubs and bars almost immediately after the game ended.
By 11.15pm, the area near the Parade was crowded and small fights broke out in the area.
As crowds got larger, the police became a target.
Scuffles broke out with members of the public and officers during the night, and at one point a large crowd of youths were seen chasing a police van leaving the area.
Hertfordshire Constabulary has said that this police van has been damaged following the attack.
Enquiries into the 30 incidents will continue.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article