POLICE have revealed that six Celtic fans have been arrested in Valencia ahead of today’s Europa League clash at the Mestalla.
News of the arrests came as footage emerged online showing riot cops appearing to use heavy-handed tactics against the Scottish supporters.
A 25-year-old man from Glasgow was held at the city’s train station after officers discovered he had drugs including cocaine on him.
Another five Brits were arrested outside St Patrick’s Irish Pub in the city centre for public order offences.
All six were this morning being kept in police cells ahead of an expected court appearance and speedy trial.
Police in Valencia said six officers had been injured after having bottles and other missiles thrown at him as they tried to free up a bus line they said the fans had been blocking outside the pub.
The same officer was then filmed using his baton to whack a shocked Celtic supporter on the legs as he tried to intervene.
A spokesman for the National Police in Valencia said the force would be “self-critical” and take disciplinary action against officers felt to have overstepped the mark.
A spokesman for the National Police in Valencia said the force would be “self-critical” and take disciplinary action against officers felt to have overstepped the mark.
She stated: “If there are officers who have not acted as they should, it gives the whole force a bad image.
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“Where there’s a police intervention, we always look afterwards at the way it’s been carried out.
“If it’s considered there are individual officers who have gone too far, it will be investigated.”
Confirming there had been six Brit arrests in the city in the past 24 hours, she added: “A 25-year-old from Glasgow was arrested at the train station around 9pm last night.
“He was with a group of people who had travelled to Valencia from the city of Castellon further north and had been involved in disturbances on the train which caused delays.
“Police went to identify them and found drugs on one of them, namely cocaine and crystal meth.
“The other five were arrested earlier the same evening following disturbances outside an Irish pub where around 200 Celtic fans had gathered.
“Police were in the vicinity of the pub. The detainees started occupying the bus lane outside the pub.
“Although they heeded the initial requests by officers to move away from the bus lane, they ended up blocking it again and instead of moving on, began to take their shirts off and shout and throw glasses and bottles at the officers when they went to intervene.
“They also started to hang off lamps outside a business premises next to the pub.
“Six officers were injured in the violence along with an 18-year-old man who happened to be passing through the area and was hit on the head.
“The fans also overturned some rubbish bins and caused damage to a police van.
“They were arrested for public order offences and for a crime of offence against public authority.
“All six men are currently being held at a city police station and have not yet been handed over to the courts.
“They are all from the United Kingdom but I do not have more details on exactly where they are all from.
“The injuries the officers have suffered are from blows they have received. One for instance has an elbow injury and other abrasions from missiles thrown at them.”
Police went public with the arrests as Valencia confirmed it would not be selling tickets from its stadium ticket offices today for “security reasons.”
A statement on their website said: “For security reasons Valencia Football Club has taken the decision not to open its ticket booths at Mestalla today, which means there are no more tickets on sale for the UEFA Europa League match this Thursday against Celtic FC.
“Valencia regrets any inconvenience this measure, taken with the knowledge of UEFA, the police and Celtic FC with the aim of protecting the security of supporters, may cause to some of our fans.”
Celtic security chief Ronnie Hawthorn said: ”The message from the club is that only those with tickets should try to approach the stadium.
“If you have got a ticket, great. Enjoy what should be a fabulous experience. But if you don’t have a ticket, watch it in a bar instead.
“It is a common-sense approach, one that Valencia and the Foreign Office have issued as well.”
Many were expected to arrive from Benidorm during the day.
A popular Rangers’ bar in Benidorm – the Golden Last pub – was set on fire in the early hours of yesterday morning in an attack blamed on arsonists.
Officially, only 2,500 Celtic fans will be at the Mestalla this evening as that was the allocation awarded to the club by Valencia.
However, thousands of supporters are known to have travelled to Spain without tickets.
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/six-celtic-fans-arrested-amid-clashes-with-cops-as-valencia-refuse-to-sell-any-more-tickets-for-europa-league-match-over-security-fears/
News Photo Six Celtic fans arrested amid clashes with cops as Valencia refuse to sell any more tickets for Europa League match over security fears
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