Three Tottenham fans were taken to hospital in France while several others were left with cuts and bruises after being attacked by a gang of up to 50 masked hooligans in a pub in Lyon on Wednesday night.
The attack took place ahead of their side’s Europa League match against Lyon is the second time Spurs fans were attacked in their successive European trips.
The incident took place at the Smoking Dog English-style pub in Lyon and police suspects that it was of an anti-Semitic nature and well-coordinated.
Dave Eales, the English owner of that pub, revealed that he had been warned of this attack several weeks ago and was being planned by local criminal gangs.
Fortunately, those who are caught up in the attack did not suffer serious injury and that subsequent steps had been taken by the police and arrests were done relating to the incident. A Tottenham spokesman was quoted in the press:
“Club officials attended an incident last night in Lyon. A group of around 50 people confronted fans.
“The situation was dealt with and arrests were made within the hour. Three fans sustained minor injuries and received prompt medical assistance.
“Spurs officials and stewards will be in the city throughout the day, along with matchday French police ahead of kick-off.”
According to witnesses the groups of attackers wearing balaclavas smashed doors and threw cast-iron chairs, wooden objects, and a flare into the pub and while few others have claimed the assailants made Nazi salutes.
The worrying sign is, this is the second time Tottenham fans have been targeted in an apparent anti-Semitic attack in the last three months.
Spurs have a strong Jewish following and in November were ambushed inside a pub in Rome on the eve of their game against Lazio. During that incident a Spurs fan, named Ashley Mills suffered knife wounds to his head and leg during an ambush at the Drunken Ship pub in Campo de Fiori.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
