Some supporters were attacked outside a bar in the Polish city on Tuesday night as Man United were providing assistance to the victims.
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Manchester United fans were reportedly attacked outside a bar in Gdansk, Poland, on Tuesday night ahead of the Europa League final against Villarreal. A group of people, dressed predominantly in dark clothes, chanting and running from a bar, thereby leaving tables and chairs overturned, according to videos circulating on social media. Later, Manchester United informed that they are assisting the victims of the attack.
The club issued a statement on Wednesday, which read, “Club staff were assisting a number of United fans in Gdansk last night and today after an incident where some of our supporters were attacked outside a bar in the city.”
A United fan in Gdansk told Sky Sports News, “One of them came up to me, pushed me to the ground and started stamping on me multiple times. Luckily my dad came and helped me out but yeah it wasn’t very nice. A bit worrying.”
Another supporter added, “You don’t expect to see something like that at a final, we’re all here for a good time we were having a joke with the Spanish fans no problems at all and it just came out of nowhere.”
Later, local mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz condemned the attack with a statement on Facebook. “Yesterday there was a hooligan attack on the fans of the teams that came to the Europa League final,” Dulkiewicz wrote.
“In Gdansk, an open and solidary city, there is no place for any kind of violence! Dear fans and guests, you are always welcome and we cordially welcome you to our city!”
Gdansk police spokesman Michal Sienkiewicz told Polish broadcaster TVN24 that up to 30 attackers may have been involved and they left before police arrived.
“The whole thing took seconds rather than minutes and then the attackers dispersed,” Sienkiewicz said. “We will most probably be publishing the images of persons that were involved in the occurrence. Arrests are just a matter of time.”
It is to be noted that United and Villarreal have each been allocated 2,000 tickets for the final. A maximum crowd of 9,500 allowed for the big final or just under 25 percent of the capacity of the Stadion Gdansk.
