Celtic fans used bottles to attack police before UEFA Champions League match

Sky Sports News

Amsterdam Police have blamed a group of Celtic fans for the trouble in the city before Wednesday's Champions League tie against Ajax.

A spokesman for the police said 'a number of Celtic fans' were among those arrested during the clashes in Dam Square in the early hours of Wednesday evening.

A group of Celtic supporters who were gathered in the centre of the city became the target of what appeared to be an organised gang who soon began exchanging taunts before throwing missiles in their direction.

Riot police were swiftly on the scene and they were soon joined by scores of plain-clothes officers.

It is thought a number of Celtic fans charged by mounted police responded by throwing bottles and missiles which resulted in the injuries to the officers.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Amsterdam Police Inspector Rob Van Der Veen said: "Thirtynine people have been arrested and 27 of them are still in custody. We are dealing with them.

"I am not sure how many of them are Celtic supporters but there are a number of them, along with Ajax fans, in that group."

Asked to clarify the reasons for the arrests, Mr Van Der Veen said: "At a certain moment there were around 1,500 Celtic fans on Dam Square.

"There were also police officers in riot gear and also police officers in plain clothes.

"At a certain moment a big group of the Celtic fans turned against the policemen in plain clothes and there was a big fight.

"This resulted in eight of our officers being injured, with broken noses, cuts to their faces, heads and lips. Some of the fans used bottles to hit the officers, which was not a nice sight."