PORTUGUESE FANS O’ WAR
Black-clad mob attacks hotel in Lisbon city centre
A HUGE brawl broke out on the streets of Lisbon just hours before Rangers were set to take on Benfica in the Europa League.
Weapon-wielding thugs traded blows outside a hotel in the Portuguese capital on Wednesday night.
Footage shared on X, formerly Twitter, showed men with their hoods up, or wearing balaclavas, using their belts to inflict blows on rivals as fist fights took place in a square in a shopping district.
Shouts of “come on then!” could be heard in the footage.
Another clip showed a gang of more than 20 clad in black and wearing hats and balaclavas attacking a hotel.
The group, mostly wearing black jackets and with their heads and faces covered, tried to force their way inside the premises and threw objects. A group of rivals then poured out of the four-star VIP Executive Éden Aparthotel in Lisbon’s Praça dos Restauradores.
The group that emerged from the hotel, some of whom appeared to be wearing Rangers home strips, then gave chase, before going on the defensive and running away. They were then chased down neighbouring streets with fans spotted trading blows at the Praça do Rossio.
Rangers supporters have stated online that fans of the Italian club Atalanta stormed the hotel in a bid to attack Scottish supporters and before Gers fans headed out to confront them.
It is understood Atalanta casuals were in the area following their 1-1 draw with Sporting Lisbon in the same competition. Sirens were heard in the background of one video while the reflection of a blue flashing light was seen in the other, but no police officers or vehicles were captured in the clips. Benfica supporters have been involved in a number of violent incidents recently, from attacking other teams’ fans to throwing lit flares at rival supporters inside the ground, the Stadium of Light. Th e violence came as Portuguese police vowed to try to keep Rangers fans safe. A spokesman for The Public Security Police (PSP) told the Daily Record they would “carry out a dynamic, flexible and highly visible police operation, based on the permanent collection of relevant information”.
They added: “There will be uniformed police officers, placed in visible points to maintain public order and increase the feeling of security, as well as non-uniformed police officers (plain clothes), in a more discreet manner for prevention and response to criminal offences.”
Rangers held Benfica to a 2-2 draw last night in the last-16, first-leg match.
The Daily Record contacted the hotel for comment.
There will be uniformed police officers placed to maintain public order
PORTUGUESE POLICE ON OPERATION