Disturbing footage has emerged of football fans fighting ahead of a match in London tonight.
Supporters of German side FC Köln marched through the capital this afternoon ahead of their team’s Europa League match with Arsenal this evening.
But footage posted online shows two men being kicked and punched during the build-up to the game in the centre of the city.
Hundreds of German fans took over Wardour Street in Soho shortly after 3pm this afternoon
The fans moved from Soho to Oxford Street before taking over Highbury Corner
Raucous Koln fans march along Oxford Street ahead of their team’s Europa League clash with Arsenal this evening
Koln fans flock to Oxford Circus underground station as they head towards north London for tonight’s match against Arsenal
Pictures have emerged of fans fighting as FC Köln supporters marched through London today
Footage showed a man being kicked in the head while another is punched as he intervenes
Around 20,000 fans are thought to have travelled from the German city of Cologne for the match this evening, with hundreds joining a march down Wardour Street this afternoon.
The large group of supporters were filmed marching to the beat of drums and waving flares before the scenes of violence emerged.
They also took over an area of Oxford Street before most of them moved on to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in the north of the city.
Highbury Corner in the north of the city was described as ‘chaos’ by the local council leader.
It is Köln’s first match in Europe for more than 20 years and their notorious fanatical supporters are determined to make the most of it.
It has been reported banks in Cologne ran out pounds sterling this week due to the demand from supporters planning to travel to London.
A huge number of visiting fans gathers in Soho after lunch before matching through the city
A sea of supporters in black and red shirts brought Oxford Street to a standstill this afternoon
Koln supporters take over central London as hundreds march along Oxford Street hours before their clash against Arsenal
Koln fans belt out songs and enjoy a few drinks as they soak up the atmosphere before tonight’s Europa League clash
Koln fans wave a bright red flare and march to the beat of a drum as they enjoy a pre-match party in central London today
Londoners took to Twitter to complain about the fans after public transport routes were hit
The majority of the fans were singing songs and celebrating their day in London without violence however, and police said they have made no arrests.
A Met Police spokesman said: ‘At around 15:00hrs on Thursday, 14 September a large group of football fans gathered in Oxford Street, W1.
‘The group were at the location for about 30 minutes whilst they boarded public transport to travel to a football match this evening.
‘They did throw bottles and let off flares, but there was no significant disorder, police were on scene and there have been no arrests. The group has now left the area.’
Hundreds of fans from Cologne’s main team took over an area of central London this afternoon
Flares were set off as part of the centre of the capital was temporarily closed off by the group
Most of the German fans parading through the capital’s streets in high spirits but scenes later turned ugly with violence breaking out
Traffic squeezes past crowds of spectators as they spill off pavements on Oxford Street and onto the busy road
Police survey the scene as crowds of Koln supporters wave scarves and chant as they march through central London today
Only 3,000 of the 20,000 fans who have travelled to London have tickets to the match, raising concerns about what the others will do once the game starts.
Arsenal have issued a warning to German fans saying that any away fans trying to get into the home fans end will be ejected.
A message on the Arsenal website said: ‘Please note visiting supporters that purchase a ticket in the home end for this fixture are likely to be ejected from the stadium.
‘We have made this decision following consultation with the police and to ensure we are in line with crowd segregation requirements.’
Three Koln fans enjoy a pint at a pub in Islington, north London, before making their way to the Arsenal match this evening
Like many of his friends, this Koln fan belts out a song as he joins thousands of others on the streets of London
One Koln fan has ripped off a traffic bollard during the booze-fuelled excitement on the streets of London today
Koln fans pack the streets in north London as crowds make their way to the Emirates Stadium for tonight’s clash
Friends chant and sing as Koln fans flock to north London for the Europa League clash with Arsenal this evening