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A BASQUE POLICE officer died yesterday as security forces clashed with fans of Russian club Spartak Moscow in the Spanish city of Bilbao where a Europa League match was taking place.
“We can confirm that a Basque policeman died Thursday,” said a press spokesman for the Ertzaintza regional police.
However, he refused to comment on Spanish media speculation that he had died as a result of the fighting which took place before the game.
He added that an autopsy would have to be performed before they were in a position to comment on the cause of death.
The deputy minister for security at the Basque regional government, Josu Zubiaga, told Cadena Ser radio that pending the “forensic reports, everything seems to indicate that there was no violent contact that may have resulted in the death”.
More than 500 police officers had been deployed for the high-risk return leg of the tie.
Earlier in the evening, police made a number of arrests as the violence and injuries escalated.
“Five people have been arrested. We do not know if they are all supporters of Spartak, but many of them are Russians,” a spokesman for Ertzaintza told AFP.
The trouble began as Spartak ultras arrived at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao for the game.
Some lit and threw smoke bombs and garbage cans before police charged at them.
Spartak won the match 2-1, but Bilbao went through 4-3 on aggregate.
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Hooligans only going to football to engage in violence without a thought about the consequences. Man went out to do a days work and never came home. Hope the culprits get what they deserve!
Think what it’s going to be like at the wc in Russia. Complete madness I bet
@David OfBrien:
It was the one WC which I didn’t mind us not qualifying for
@Nick Allen: I saw some I short documentary about the WC in Russia and word on the street is that most of the hooligans are essentially going to be interned for the duration of the tournament, they expect to be picked up a week before locked away and released a week after it ends, so that Russia can save face in the eyes of the world
@Paul Hughes: you reckon? Putin leave them have at any nations fans who have been critical of him eg Germany:England etc
@Paul Hughes: Putin’s some genius, dictates the results of elections world wide, big say in sport contests ,and no doubt shortly we’ll find out he’s responsible for soccer hooliganism.
@Jointheclubtoo: He is actually as most of these ultras are members of the youth wing of his political party. Remember watching a documentary about it.
He had a heart attack. The headline and story suggests he was violently killed. Big difference.
@Derek Durkin: he had a heart attack for sure , but wait till the autopsy before you decide if it was caused by violence . At the same time at 51 years old you should have to be in the front line of the riot squad .
@Derek Durkin: Bit misleading from the author who is speculatively trying to forward an agenda here.
The cause of death was mentioned multiple times during the actual game and in a number of highlights packages and match reports on the game afterwards.
Isn’t this the game the Russian hooligan was arrested going to?
The “beautiful” game eh?
It’s a bloody good job we are sh!te at the ball and don’t have to go to the World Cup. The Ruskies are mental!
They wont get what they deserve. They won’t even captured them, or if, then evidence will be inconclusive. Soccer on the continent is mad and weird. But the clubs want to play to make their €€€.
And for some reason they’ve decided to put the Champions Cup in Bilbao
@Sham Pig: it was Russian hooligans causing unrest in Bilbao.
@Sham Pig: beautiful city,wonderful new stadium,great people,cheap beer….and your point is??
have your say