It seemed so bizarre and incongruous to an otherwise normal Champions League night.
Man City hosting Sevilla in a Group D match is not a recipe for disaster, nor reason to fear a violent clash between the rival fans that aren’t remotely rivals.
https://twitter.com/MCFClnfo/status/656854869303795712
At first it was assumed that local City supporters were exchanging blows and hurled chairs with the Spanish visitors, but now it seems that Polish football hooligans are to blame.
Shortly after JOE reported the disturbance, a reader informed us of outside forces being at work…
@JOE_co_uk @BeardedGenius wasn't City fans but Polish ultras who have been waiting to get revenge on Seville's ultras for a couple of years.
— DT (@MDTouceda4) October 21, 2015
@barneygoxford @JOE_co_uk @BeardedGenius proper city fans these pic.twitter.com/A2s2oOzqOV
— DT (@MDTouceda4) October 21, 2015
This theory was backed up by the Greater Manchester Police force, who confirmed that a rogue Polish element had been arrested in connection with the trouble…
3 x Polish Football fans arrested for a violent disorder following the incident at Shambles Square earlier this evening.
— Manchester City Centre Police (GMP) (@GMPCityCentre) October 21, 2015
It seemed that the Polish ultras have long memories. The origins of the bad blood stem from a Europa League play-off match between Sevilla and Śląsk Wrocław in 2013.
Knives were involved in violent clashes between the two sets of supporters, with some Śląsk fans reportedly hospitalised by the ugly scenes.
It looks like Manchester was the unlikely setting for some retribution.
