Brawl erupts ahead of Conference League final as Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans clash in Leipzig

The start of the Conference League final in Germany was marred by a massive scandal and widespread unrest.

Details: In the very heart of Leipzig, a violent confrontation broke out between supporters of Spain's Rayo Vallecano and England's Crystal Palace. What was meant to be a peaceful football celebration instantly turned into a battleground just moments before the tournament's main event kicked off.

• See also: Libertad vs Universidad Central: prediction, head-to-head and probable line-ups — 28.05.2026

According to Saxony police, the incident was a coordinated action. Around 300 Rayo Vallecano ultras, all dressed in black, launched a sudden, organized attack on Crystal Palace fans who were peacefully sitting in street cafés in the historic city center.

Everything that came to hand was used as a weapon: beer mugs, glass bottles, as well as tables and chairs from the summer terraces of local restaurants. The scale of the rampage forced authorities to urgently deploy riot police, who struggled to break up the frenzied crowd and regain control of the situation.

It's worth noting that the match itself is scheduled to kick off today, May 27, at 21:00 Central European Time.