Amsterdam Police have blamed a group of Celtic fans for the trouble in the city before Wednesdays Champions League tie against Ajax. A spokesman for the police said a number of Celtic fans were among those arrested during the clashes in Dam Square in the early hours of Wednesday evening. A group of Celtic supporters who were gathered in the center of the city became the target of what appeared to be an organised gang who soon began exchanging taunts before throwing missiles in their direction. Riot police were swiftly on the scene and they were soon joined by scores of plain-clothes officers. It is thought a number of Celtic fans charged by mounted police responded by throwing bottles and missiles which resulted in the injuries to the officers. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Amsterdam Police Inspector Rob Van Der Veen said: 39 people have been arrested and 27 of them are still in custody. We are dealing with them. I am not sure how many of them are Celtic supporters but there are a number of them, along with Ajax fans, in that group. Asked to clarify the reasons for the arrests, Mr Van Der Veen said: At a certain moment there were around 1,500 Celtic fans on Dam Square. There were also police officers in riot gear and also police officers in plain clothes. At a certain moment a big group of the Celtic fans turned against the policemen in plain clothes and there was a big fight. This resulted in eight of our officers being injured, with broken noses, cuts to their faces, heads and lips. Some of the fans used bottles to hit the officers, which was not a nice sight. However, the officers version of events was at odds with a number of Celtic fans arriving back at Glasgow Airport following the 1-0 defeat which leaves their side bottom of the group. All claimed organised groups of home supporters instigated the trouble which had been widely anticipated after their travelling fans were involved in a number of incidents prior to, during and after Celtics victory at Parkhead two weeks ago. Celtic fans were in the square having a drink and enjoying themselves. Obviously there was more there than had tickets for the game, a returning fan told Sky Sports News. The Dutch fans just attacked the Celtic fans, and when they asked police what is happening the police started attacking Celtic fans, hitting them with batons while the Dutch fans were throwing bottles at them. Another supporter said: We were in the square just before it all kicked off and it was all the casuals who came into the squad trapping a lot of Celtic fans in the pubs and the security just wouldnt let them out.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 14:16:05 +0000
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