Spanish police have confirmed the arrests of five Germans after halting an attempt by Eintracht Frankfurt hooligans to attack Rangers fans.
Riot cops had to intervene after thugs, many of them wearing balaclavas to mask their faces, began throwing flares at a large group of Gers supporters enjoying late-night drinks in Seville.
Spanish TV footage showed the hooligans brazenly approaching heavily-armed officers standing between them and the Scottish fans before hurling their missiles as extra police reached the scene.
One flare landed inches from the spot where the Rangers supporters were standing, near to Irish bar O’Neills on Paseo de Colon.
Police sources said the Eintracht Frankfurt ultras had started the trouble by trying to reach the Rangers fans and start a fight with them.
Reinforcements were quickly mobilised, arriving in several riot vans with their sirens sounding and lights flashing, to restore order and stop the problems worsening.
Police said the incident was started by around 200 Eintracht Frankfurt supporters and confirmed they had to fire warning shots into the air to bring the situation under control.
A Rangers supporter suffered head injuries, but his condition this morning is not known.
A spokesman for Spain’s National Police said: “The National Police have arrested five Eintracht Frankfurt supporters for public order offences following the violence overnight in the centre of Seville.
“The problems occurred around midnight during a mass altercation opposite Seville Cathedral.
“Rapid police response units who were in San Francisco Square had to intervene to deal with an incident sparked by a group of 200 Eintracht Frankfurt fans who were attacking Rangers supporters.
“When they saw police arrive, the German fans started to flee in the direction of Paseo Colon, assaulting Rangers supporters as they ran and clashing with police trying to stop the attack on the Rangers fans.
“At that moment the Eintracht Frankfurt fans began to throw glasses, flares and tables at police officers.
“When they were 100 metres from the bars on Paseo de Colon where it meets Adriano Street, officers managed to neutralise the situation with a police line formed with riot vans and by firing warning shots in the air.”
The spokesman added: “There were no serious injuries as a result of these incidents, except for a Rangers supporter who suffered a head wound.
“The police arrested four German fans on Paseo de Colon and another German in a square called La Puerta de Jerez.”
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