According to the Albanian police, at least 19 police officers and two other people were injured. One of the law enforcement officers sustained injuries from a knife attack. There were at least 60 arrests.
The riots came about because the supporters each tried to storm into the area of the other group, it said. Authorities said 48 Italian and 12 Dutch football fans were taken into custody. The police were attacked by the fans with glass bottles, stones and sticks, four police vehicles were damaged. 80 Roma fans were sent back to their homeland by ferry.
The capital of Albania was expecting 100,000 fans from both countries for the game on Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) – but both clubs are only entitled to 4,000 tickets each, and the National Arena can hold 21,690 spectators. The final is one of the biggest sporting events ever held in Albania. The authorities declared Wednesday a public holiday and closed the main roads in Tirana.
Source: Nachrichten
