After the third preliminary round match of UEFA EURO 2024 on Saturday evening (22 June) in Cologne, Head of Operations Martin Lotz drew a preliminary conclusion immediately after the end of the match:
"Our operational concept has worked well so far. Despite many celebrating soccer fans around the stadium, in the old town and in the fan zones, we have only had to intervene in isolated cases and have taken five people into custody. However, we will continue to be present with our forces throughout the night and ensure that not only soccer fans can celebrate and be out and about safely in Cologne."
Police had already checked around 90 Romanian soccer supporters near Domplatz before the start of the match in order to address potential troublemakers seeking violence at an early stage and keep an eye on them. After checking their personal details, police officers then escorted the Romanian fans towards the stadium.
Two fan marches by supporters of both national teams started as usual at 6 p.m. with several thousand participants from the fan meeting points on Josef-Lammerting Allee and Kitschburger Straße towards the stadium. At both Fan Walks, the participating stadium visitors occasionally set off pyrotechnics.
In the fan zones at Heumarkt and Tanzbrunnen, visitors to the events also set off pyrotechnics. An employee of the security service at Heumarkt complained of breathing difficulties and had to be treated for minor injuries.
After a bottle was thrown at a steward at Heumarkt, the evening ended for two Belgian soccer fans in police custody. Both are now facing criminal charges for causing grievous bodily harm.
In all other cases, the police filed charges for violations of the Explosives Act.
Immediately after the soccer match against Portugal, around 300 fans of the Turkish national team celebrated on Hohenzollernring in the city center. Police officers then closed the Hohenzollernring at Palmstraße for around two hours.