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It is a wild scene: after the game between FC Winterthur and GC, clashes broke out on Saturday between GC fans and the Winterthur city police. Officers used pepper spray and rubber bullets. The riots then also moved to and around the station.
As several fans report to Blick, the police would have acted too harshly and fueled the riots. The police, on the other hand, tell a different story: the officers were attacked by the rioters.
‘As if the police are just waiting for it’
A GC fan who saw the situation firsthand says: “After the game, some fans stepped against a fence and lingered. The police then fired pepper spray directly at the crowd, which was completely unnecessary. It seemed like the police were waiting for it.”
Sarah Paul of Winterthur City Police is defending the allegations from the fans. When Blick asked about it, she explained: “I can’t subscribe to the GC fan representation. A larger group of partially masked fans wanted to break into the restricted area and climb over the fence.
Another fan who was also at the game reports: “A firecracker was ignited and it was not thrown at the police. Yet pepper spray immediately flew around and then rubber shot. You had to be careful not to get hit. Also the elderly were in danger and I heard several small children crying.”
The GC fan is sure that the police overreacted. “Usually it’s the fans’ fault and I’m very grateful for the police work. But yesterday the reaction was really over the top. The police have only escalated it.”
A police spokeswoman contradicts fans
Sarah Paul, on the other hand, explains: “The police only reacted with pepper spray and rubber shots when the situation called for it and only then could the situation calm down.” The GC fans see it differently, in their opinion the police intervened at the first moment with pepper spray and rubber shots.
According to the police spokeswoman, every use of pepper spray and rubber bullet is carefully considered. “We work through various scenarios in advance and analyze the situation in detail. In meetings both before and after the matches, we look at our commitment in detail.”
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
