THE METROPOLITAN POLICE have confirmed that one Paris Saint-Germain fan has been arrested in connection with incidents before Thursday’s Women’s Champions League game against Chelsea.
PSG travelled to London for the first leg of their quarter final match against the Blues, with the return match scheduled for 27 March.
The build-up to the game at Kingsmeadow, however, was marred by reports of criminal damage and disorder levelled against a group of the French team’s fans.
Those reports were later confirmed by police sources, who revealed that supporters had carried weapons to the match on board a coach.
“Weapons, including knives and knuckledusters, were recovered along with class A drugs,” a statement released by the Met explained.
“One man from the coach was arrested for possession of class A drugs and the remaining passengers were escorted from the area by police.”
The coach is understood to have travelled from Paris to London overnight carrying the fans, 50 of whom were denied entry to the stadium on Thursday evening.
Reports of vandalism at Kingsmeadow emerged as early as 8pm GMT, including a broken door and pro-PSG graffiti daubed on the walls.
The fans are believed to be part of a PSG ultras group known for their violent behaviour, according to the BBC. The group has already been banned from attending first-team and youth matches of the Ligue 1 side, but no such prohibition is yet in force for the club’s women’s team.
Chelsea and PSG’s clash suffered no delay despite the incidents, with the Blues taking the lead through Hannah Blundell deep into the second half before Erin Cuthbert doubled their advantage in the 88th minute to secure a 2-0 win for Chelsea.
Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell
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Well you won’t be winning any titles with the Rangers anyway butty
I’ve a feeling they’re going to slip up again
@Ardmore02: crack a Rodgers character joke. Go on ya know you want you
If for no other reason but your management of the most sectarian club in the world I do hope city win the title
@Martin Brennan: I’d say you’ve quite a few reasons.
@Martin Brennan: come out ye black and tans
What about the time you wanted to go to Chelsea. Wouldn’t believe a word you say
Overrated anyway
Complete legend, how does Scholes, Chadwick, Djemba, etc get mentioned same breath. And great to see him resurrect Rangers again. Deplorable league being won at a canter by 1 club 4 2 long now. Well done Mr. Liverpool
@Virgil Van Rock:
Ah lad come on ffs. What’s with the Djemba and Chadwick obsession? Every United fan knows they were wasters. The man living in Jupiter knows Scholes was a class act. Try again horse. I was a big fan of Gerrard in his playing days, he’s still hurting bad from the slip, and in fairness, he doesn’t try mask it either.
@Virgil Van Rock: Liverpool fans have the worst opinions on football haha Scholes is miles better than Gerrard and I’m a Barca fan Scholes controlled the game better than Gerrard could have dreamed of doing
@Gary: as footballers they were completely different. In my opinion it’s pointless comparing them as they both brought their own separate qualities to Liverpool and United. As a Liverpool fan, I rate Scholes, Keane and Henry as the three best players the league has seen but there’s no denying Gerrard was an exceptional footballer who carried an average Liverpool on his shoulders for many years.
@Gary: Scholes gets better with each passing year. Never once won the united player of the year.
@The Bloody Nine: completely right gerrard and scholes two completely differnt players. Scholes as he got older controlled the tempo of the game. Stevie G was roy of the rovers stuff magic moments when needed. In the premiership era our own mr roy keane was the greatest. What a f..king player he was.
@Virgil Van Rock: ressurect to what? Well done for MORE SLIPS. Must be contagious, baton to Karius and now to another fall guy NO DOUBT. dropped baton more appropriate!
@Virgil Van Rock: Funny how all the best playera in La Liga rated Scholes above Mr. Slippy. Much more natural talent there anyways rather than an overated work horse.
@The Bloody Nine: Nah Gerrard is not on Scholes level simple as that people don’t appreciate Scholes but if Scholes was Spanish he’d be up with Xavi and Iniesta
@Conor Pocock: Judging players off player of the year? Haha
@Gary: can’t remember too many matches when scholesy grabbed the game by the scruff , yeah great player alright but too quiet , Gerard leagues above him , yeah granted the red lad has more medals etc
@Gary: it would be unfair to judge people off Balon Dor or PFA player of the year alright. But club player of the year when held in the regard Scholes I think is fair enough. An excellent player nobody disputes but overrated.
Oh no
Ya spoke too soon Stevie………….sap
Ya spoke too soon Stevie
Someone should be taking bets on who the NEXT slip guy or fall guy will be that WILL stop that lot taking a title.
Ya spoke too soon Stevie, silly sausage
Apparently Stevie spoke too soon
Ya spoke too soon Stevie, silly muppet