Manchester City fans smash up cop van and clash with riot police after side wins Champions League and completes treble

Posted Monday, June 12, 2023 by Thesun.co.uk

MANCHESTER City fans were caught smashing up a cop van and clashing with riot police after their win in the Champions League, completing a historic treble.

Thousands of fans went berserk at the match in Turkey and rocked pubs, bars and fan zones across the UK as City sent Inter Milan packing with an extraordinary 1-0 win in Istanbul.

Fans with bloodied eyes were taken away by police

City songs also rang out from people standing on bus stops trying to get the crowd going

A man is pinned to the floor by cops as City celebrations escalated

Captain Ilkay Gundogan lifted the trophy at the 74,000-capacity Atatürk Olympic Stadium thanks to a 67th-minute goal by Spanish midfielder Rodri.

Fans not lucky enough to get their hands on a ticket were overcome with emotion inside Istanbul's Manchester City Fan Zone.

They were pictured screaming in disbelief and hugging each other through tears as they watched their team's first ever Champions League title come home.

However, on the streets of Manchester, some fans took the celebrations too far.

During a disorder in Piccadilly Gardens, Greater Manchester Police were forced to intervene when rowdy hooligans smashed up one of their patrol vans.

As a City fan climbed on top of the roof, they kicked in the windscreen and blue light bar.

Letting off blue flares, a group of young lads then all chanted from on top of the van whilst it was caving in.

One man was arrested on suspicion of damage to the vehicle, say cops.

City songs also rang out from people standing on bus stops trying to get the crowd going.

Troublemakers with black eyes and bloodied noses were also taken away by police with some being pinned to the ground.

Riot cops with batons were called in to help with the chaos as hundreds carried on the party well into the night.

Chief Superintendent Rick Jackson said: "This was a momentous occasion in the history of Manchester and overall, the night passed without any significant trouble.

"The night was the culmination of a busy one for Greater Manchester Police - from gigs and festivals to protests, we have managed a large number of operations over the last 24 hours.

"However, our officers have shown hard-work and professionalism; the last couple of days have passed relatively smoothly and it is down to their commitment.

"While several arrests were made in Piccadilly Gardens, the minority should not detract from what was a great night for this city."

Carnage also exploded inside the Depot Mayfield, in Manchester, where thousands of beer-drench fans hurled pints and cried their eyes out.

And it was bedlam at Manchester's Love Factory as fans roared in celebration as their team secured the treble.

A raft of celebs were also spotted celebrating - including Oasis icon Noel Gallagher and ex-boxer Ricky Hatton.

Noel went wild at a supporters club in San Diego, California, as his boyhood team made history.

Meanwhile shirtless Hatton was seen earlier on Saturday soaking up the rays with a table full of beer in Istanbul.

But it was commiserations for thousands of Inter fans who looked devastated at the final whistle.

Some fans of the Italian side were even seen weeping into one another as their side failed to overcome City's onslaught.

Manchester City's win marks the second Treble Pep Guardiola has won in his career.

The first came at Barcelona in 2009 - at the end of his very first season in management.

A group of lads let off flares from the roof of a cop van

As City fans climbed on top of the roof, they kicked in the windscreen and blue light bar

Another man is pinned to the ground

It was bedlam at Manchester's Love Factory as fans roared in celebration after their team secured a historic treble