Source:REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
[Saba Sports News] Before the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match, an incident attracting attention occurred at Strasbourg’s Place du Marche Gayot. A small group of Crystal Palace extremist fans caused a disturbance, primarily involving internal brawls and vandalism of public property. Crystal Palace fans threw cafe chairs in the square, punched each other in brawls, and shattered the windows of surrounding shops, leaving glass fragments scattered everywhere. Nearby bars were forced to close temporarily. Fortunately, local police quickly intervened to stop the situation and eventually managed to disperse the fans. In our opinion, the actions of some Crystal Palace fans – throwing objects, brawling, and causing trouble in a public area, damaging surrounding shops and public order – have completely deviated from normal matchday enthusiasm and amount to a disregard for public safety. Even emotional excitement surrounding the match cannot serve as an excuse for violence. The swift intervention and control of the situation by French police maintained order and demonstrated consequences for the riotous behavior. From the club’s perspective, Crystal Palace’s zero-tolerance policy is commendable. However, this incident also exposes shortcomings in the education and guidance provided to traveling fans, especially for a team making its debut in European competitions, where fan management needs strengthening.