• Clashes between Chelsea and Real Betis fans before the Conference League final in Wroclaw, Poland.
• Polish police have arrested 28 individuals amid ongoing violence between the supporters.
• Riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds after multiple incidents.

In Wroclaw, Poland, fans of Chelsea and Real Betis engaged in clashes ahead of the UEFA Conference League final, prompting strong responses from local authorities. Footage shared on social media showed supporters hurling chairs at each other and participating in running battles on Tuesday evening. Polish police confirmed that they had detained individuals involved in the scuffles, including a Spanish citizen after a prior incident, and a further three Spaniards early Wednesday morning for removing UEFA flags, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

As tensions escalated, riot police were deployed in significant numbers on Wednesday, utilizing a water cannon to quell violence in the city square. The Lower Silesian Police reported 28 arrests, with expectations that this number could increase as ongoing evaluations continued. Local authorities noted that over 70,000 fans were in attendance for the final, creating a crowded atmosphere. "The police very quickly took action to separate the two groups and prevent the escalation of aggressive behaviour," the police stated, highlighting their proactive measures during the confrontations, according to BBC and Reuters.

Despite the violence, fans appeared determined to enjoy the occasion, with some Chelsea and Betis supporters brushing off the incidents. A Betis fan, Juan, expressed optimism by saying, "We are loving every second of this, we're going to celebrate afterwards." Another fan, Maria, reinforced this sentiment by stating, "We're not scared, we're very happy. Most of us just want to enjoy the football and the match," illustrating that many attendees aimed to focus on the positive side of the event. These responses were reported by both Channel News Asia and Reuters.