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Police investigating fan brawl ahead of Arsenal-PSG clash in Budapest
30th May, 2026 05:17 PM
Police in Budapest are studying camera footage to identify supporters fighting before Saturday’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
A police statement said the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 30, 2026.
Footage emerged on social media showing what was said to be about 30 supporters of each club brawling and lighting flares.
Got into a fight
“Several fans got into a fight on May 30, 2026, at around 00:20 in Budapest’s 7th district, on Kiraly Street,” a police statement said.
“The BRFK 7th District Police Department has initiated proceedings against unknown perpetrators for the crime of gang violence, within the framework of which the camera recordings are also being analysed.”
Nearly 4,000 police officers will be deployed across the Hungarian capital for the Champions League final, with tens of thousands of fans expected to travel to Budapest without tickets.
On Tuesday, Hungary’s deputy national police chief Zoltan Janos Kuczik said: “This will be the largest single-day police deployment in Hungary’s history.”
High risk
It was described as a “high-risk event” with security preparations beginning more than a year ago.
Two Portuguese and a British man were arrested on Friday following a fight at the Champions League fan festival site and charged with disorderly conduct.
Police said a British man who climbed on to the roof of a parked car and damaged the vehicle was also arrested.
Meanwhile, ahead of the anticipated tie, football legends have made their predictions for the clash.
The Puskás Aréna showpiece revisits last season’s semi-final, when Luis Enrique’s side won both legs to defeat Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate en route to dismantling Inter 5-0 in the final to lift the trophy for the first time.
Yet across the clubs’ five meetings in this competition, those remain Paris’ only victories, Arsenal winning in the league phase last season and the sides twice drawing in 2016/17.
The rivals have met seven times in UEFA competition, with two wins each and three draws.
Their most recent meetings came in last season’s Champions League semi-finals, where Paris advanced 3-1 on aggregate. Ousmane Dembélé earned them a 1-0 away win before they triumphed 2-1 at home, with Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi scoring ahead of Bukayo Saka’s response.
