Crystal Palace fans kick off in Covent Garden ahead of FA Cup clash
FOOTBALL fans caused mayhem on the streets of London, clashing with police and brawling, hours before the FA Cup Final even started.
Crystal Palace fans let off flares on the streets of London
A sea of rowdy red and blue clad Crystal Palace supporter wreaked havoc in Covent Garden letting off fiery red illegal flares and throwing beer cans ahead of the clash with Manchester united at Wembley.
Police pleaded with fans not to light flares, with a Met Police spokesman warning people on twitter not to set them off as "there are young children" in the area.
At least one fan was arrested on suspicion of "throwing pyrotechnics".
The wave of red and blue chaos then moved from Covent Garden to Charing Cross station where fans piled onto the Bakerloo tube line for Wembley Stadium, leaving a trail of rubbish in their wake.
Crystal Palace fans create Covent Garden havoc ahead of Man Utd cup final
Crystal Palace down Covent Garden before the FA Cup final against Manchester United later #CPFC pic.twitter.com/AN6YIK2LFe
— FootballAwaydays (@Awaydays23) May 21, 2016
Epic scenes in #CoventGarden with #CrystalPalace fans out in force #FACupFinal pic.twitter.com/I6OnZfECUF
— [MICHAEL DAVIS] (@thempd) May 21, 2016
The station was soon evacuated when a 'smoke bomb' was let off inside.
FA manager at the Ladurée Covent Garden restaurant told Daily Star Online: "It was just very crowded, definitely, with lots of songs."
Londoners took to Twitter to express their shock.
Crystal Palace fans in Covent Garden before today's FA Cup Final. Scenes. pic.twitter.com/w7Ev0RrKi7
— Football Tips (@FootbaIITips) May 21, 2016
The fans took over the streets in Covent Garden
Covent Garden in chaos from a minority Palace fans pic.twitter.com/5vd2lR3xKh
— Adam Gipki (@adamgipki) May 21, 2016
The streets were left covered in litter in London
One male football supporter arrested in Covent Garden for throwing pyrotechnics. @CPFC @ManUtd
— MPS Football Unit (@MPSFootballUnit) May 21, 2016
One person Tweeted this afternoon: "Seeing these videos of Crystal Palace fans descending on Covent Garden looks absolutely terrifying."
One young man, who appears to be a friend of the man arrested, said: "[name withdrawn] got arrested, stuck in a lift for half hour and shut down whole of Covent Garden station and not even at Wembley."