10 injured in Champions League violence

During a Champions League game on Wednesday, there were around 10 people who were injured. A fight emerged between supporters of Dynamo Kiev and Turkish team Besiktas. The match ended with Dinamo having a score of 6-0.

After the match, an AFP reporter saw Turkish fans ripping off seats and throwing them at Dinamo supporters. The police tried their best to keep the two groups apart. On the other hand, Dinamo fans were seen burning a Besiktas flag.

A spokeswoman for the Kiev mayor's office said that eight of the Besiktas fans had been released from hospital by Wednesday while two more needed more time to recover. “ One of those injured underwent surgery while the other still needed to convalesce .”

A police statement said of the 10, all of whom were described as foreigners, eight were injured on Tuesday in beatings and two were stabbed in clashes near the stadium.

A video footage was captured and posted online which shows large crowds fighting in the street. They were seen using sticks and fireworks as weapons. There were also some of the Besiktas fans who clashed with police inside the stadium, but authorities said another, larger confrontation nearby was avoided. “Coordinated activity by the police and National Guard units made it possible to prevent a mass fight between football fans of both teams, with around 200 people on each side, near the sports arena,” police said.

Turkish newspaper Sabah, which is close to the government, said tens of people were attacked by masked individuals in military uniforms targeting Besiktas supporters. The newspaper reported that some injured Turkish fans flew home on the first available fight.

In recent years, it has been known that Dynamo Kiev fans have been involved in violence and racist incidents. One of which was when they had coordinated attacks on black supporters during a Champions League game against Chelsea last year.

The Ukrainian capital prepares to host the 2018 Champions League final.