By Aris Barkas/ info@eurohoops.net
BERLIN – A few hours before the conclusion of the 2023-24 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with the championship game between Real Madrid and Panathinaikos Aktor in Uber Arena on Sunday evening, fights broke out between ultras of the Greens and Olympiacos in Berlin late Saturday.
Several arrests were made by police arriving at the scene, per Eurohoops sources.
The brawl resulted in 12 people being treated at a hospital. According to the Berlin Fire Brigade, Berliner Feuerwehr, one person is in critical condition, two people have serious injuries, and nine more suffered minor injuries.
Rescuers provided immediate medical attention after overcoming initial difficulties in reaching the area in Prenzlauer Berg. Ambulances were also called to transport the injured people to a nearby hospital.
According to a police spokesman commenting on the incident on Sunday morning, around 60 people were part of a huge brawl with baseball bats and clubs, relays Berliner Zeitung. The police are in the process of identifying wrongdoers.
Other violent incidents marking the Final Four in the capital of Germany saw Turkish fans entering Uber Arena without tickets before the Semifinal pitting Fenerbahce Beko against Panathinaikos on Friday. A police intervention led to arrests, besides locking down the venue for security reasons and delaying the entrance of several fans, thus the tipoff across both Semifinals.
Also, there was tension between Fener fans and Turkish head coach Ergin Ataman during the arrival of Panathinaikos at the EuroLeague hotel on Wednesday. No arrests were made on this occasion.