Tensions Boil Over as Tottenham and Manchester United Fans Clash in Spain Ahead of Europa League Final

Fan violence marred the build-up to the UEFA Europa League final in Spain as supporters of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United were involved in clashes across several Basque Country cities. The incidents occurred ahead of Wednesday night’s highly anticipated showdown at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.

Violent altercations broke out in central Bilbao as well as in San Sebastián and Santander, cities where many English fans had chosen to stay to avoid steep accommodation costs in the host city. Local authorities had prepared for the arrival of more than 50,000 English supporters, and around 70,000 fans were believed to have travelled to Spain in total for the final.

While the majority of supporters behaved responsibly, tensions escalated among a minority, resulting in street fights and public disorder. Shocking scenes captured by residents and published by Spanish media outlets showed fans throwing tables, bottles, trash bins, and other objects during clashes in Bilbao. Similar confrontations were reported in other cities packed with ticketless fans.

“One Tottenham fan was filmed kicking a football into a crowd of United supporters,” one witness reported. “Another person among the crowd retaliated by kicking it back, sparking a war of words between the two groups.”

A brawl in San Sebastián was said to have started with shouting and insults before spiralling into violence. One incident, captured on video, showed hooligans on Fermín Calbetón Street engaging in a full-scale melee, with both sets of fans hurling drinks, bins, and other items.

Though local police intervened swiftly in multiple locations, no arrests were reported and no serious injuries were sustained. However, the scenes sparked outrage online, with social media users describing the behaviour as a “national embarrassment.” Others went further, calling those involved “idiots” and “scumbags” for bringing shame on their clubs and country.

UEFA had earlier cautioned fans against purchasing unofficial tickets, noting that each club had received an allocation of 15,000 tickets for the 50,000-capacity stadium. Prices on the resale market, however, soared into the thousands, pushing many without tickets into nearby cities.

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