Turkish and Dutch fans go at each other
Tens of thousands of fans followed the Achtelfinal match between Turkey and the Netherlands in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin - mostly peacefully. However, trouble arose after the decisive goal in the 76th minute, coming close to a mass brawl.
During the tense EURO 2020 quarterfinal between Turkey and the Netherlands, clashes occurred between fans of both teams on the fan mile in Berlin. In a video posted by the "Berliner Zeitung" at X, supporters of the teams are seen running at each other and eventually being separated by stewards and other people trying to keep the peace.
The incident reportedly took place after the 2:1 winning goal by the Dutch team. Police reportedly arrived only after the final whistle. A spokesperson could not yet confirm if officers had intervened. It was previously reported that the operation overall, up until the final whistle of the EURO 2020 quarterfinal at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, had largely proceeded without major incidents. There had been some arrests.
Due to continuous displays of the Wolfsgruss – the symbol of the far-right Turkish movement "Grey Wolves" – by Turkish football fans, the police had ended the fan march before the game. The reason given was "continuous political messages." Turkish fans were urged via loudspeakers to make their way individually to the stadium if they had a ticket. After the event, the police announced that 11 people had been arrested for various offenses.
The Dutch team's victory in the 2024 European Football Championship, with a 2:1 score against Turkey, is anticipated to take place in Berlin, following the turbulent quarterfinal experiences at the same venue during EURO 2020. Despite the ban on Turkish fan marches due to political displays, a significant number of fans from both countries are expected to attend the high-stakes match.
