Football fans clashed with police in Solihull moments after England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina on July 15. The trouble occurred on Poplar Road, outside venues including Popworld and O'Neill and Doyle's, involving a number of England supporters.
Social media footage shows police actions
Footage on social media showed an officer pushing a man away and urging him to move before striking him with a baton. In another video, an officer is seen swinging a punch at a man. Other clips showed officers attempting to wrestle a man to the ground while another was pushed up against a wall.
Unknown cause of disturbance
It is not known what sparked the disturbance, but the actions drew criticism on social media. One Instagram user, Janet, said: "They need to take lessons from rugby fans. Who can stand together in the stands without any trouble. Grown men acting like tantrum children. It’s a game… get over it."
Another user, Sabina, added: "Imagine if grown men put the same energy into their relationship like they do football, the world would be a happier place." Pita commented: "Nothing has changed in football since I have been watching it for the last 50+ years. You can sugar coat it, turn a blind eye but sadly the facts always remain the same." Samuel posted: "Don’t drink alcohol if you can’t handle it."
Police approached for comment
West Midlands Police were approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
