An estimated 80,000 Netherlands fans travelled to Germany and trouble broke out in Dortmund (Image: Getty)
England fans were attacked by rival Netherlands supporters in Dortmund just hours before the Euro 2024 semi-final was due to kick off. Ugly scenes unfolded in the German city on Wednesday afternoon as it emerged that a group of Dutch fans targeted their English counterparts at a local pub.
Video footage emerged on social media appearing to show England fans - who were situated at a local establishment - being struck with wooden chairs and stalls, while fans dressed in orange attire threw punches.
The clip, which appeared on X and was shared by dozens of accounts, showed fights breaking out between the two sets on fans with some fans in England merchandise taking shelter in a nearby pub to avoid getting involved.
However, Dutch fans quickly swept inside the pub and reignited the attacks. It is not yet known what triggered the fracas, with unconfirmed reports suggesting both sets of fans had traded insults through chants.
Dutch fans have dominated fan-zones in Dortmund ahead of the game (Image: Getty)
Riot police then stepped in to calm the situation.
Billy Grant, a member of the Football Supporters' Association (FSA), tweeted images and videos of the attacks. Mr Grant claimed to have witnessed an incident whereby a group of Dutch fans - purproted to be Feyenoord supporters - "attacked the English out the blue".
Police then told England fans to remain where they were as they began to separate the two sections of fans, who had been enjoying drinking and eating together without any trouble.
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Police have been present in the fan zone ahead of England's Euro 2024 semi-final (Image: Getty)
It comes after Dutch fans were spotted marching through the streets of the German city chanting songs and dancing, with an estimated 80,000 travelling across the Dutch-German border for Wednesday's game.
It is understood there will be 40,000 England fans in the city, suggesting they could be vastly outnumbered inside Signal Iduna Park.
The game is due to kick off at 8pm (UK time), although it remains to be seen whether that could be delayed if there is more unrest in the lead-up to kick-off.
