Four arrested over clashes before Valencia - Barcelona at Mestalla

Four men aged between 18 and 21 have been arrested in Valencia for their suspected involvement in the clashes that took place before the Valencia - Barcelona fixture at Mestalla on 23 May. Spain's National Police have charged them with public disorder and assaulting law enforcement officers, after a large group of home fans threw bottles, cans and street furniture at the security detail deployed in the streets surrounding the stadium.

• The arrests were made on Thursday in Valencia and follow the detention of a 36-year-old man on 4 June for the same events.
• The trouble broke out around 7:30 pm, shortly after the Valencia team bus passed through, when several flares were lit.
• One police officer suffered an arm injury after being hit by a glass bottle.
• The Provincial Information Brigade is continuing its investigation and has not ruled out further arrests.

From a peaceful fan march to violent clashes with riot police

The afternoon had started with a march by Valencia supporters that passed without incident and finished at the stadium at 7:00 pm. Just half an hour later, with the home team's bus already inside the ground, the atmosphere turned hostile when several flares were set off in the area.

At that point, officers from the Police Intervention Unit (UIP) deployed outside Mestalla began to face aggression from a large group of young Valencia fans. Glass bottles and beer cans were thrown at the police line, which had to contain an initial attempt by the mob to reach the officers. Police said the suspects encouraged the crowd to attack the security forces, causing a serious disturbance of public order.

Chairs and bins hurled from bar terraces near the stadium

The situation escalated when some of those involved started throwing street furniture taken from the terraces of nearby bars. Chairs and waste bins were added to the rain of objects aimed at the police line, forcing officers to reinforce the security cordon and adopt containment and dispersal measures to regain control of the street.

According to the police statement, the disorder put both officers and ordinary supporters in the area at risk. Footage of those moments shows people running, shoving and falling, as a stampede unfolded amid the violence.

One officer injured and five arrests made so far

One police officer sustained an arm injury after being struck by a glass bottle. The sequence also left a serious breach of public order in the streets around the Valencia ground, with the UIP forced to step in to prevent further harm.

The first arrest tied to these events came on 4 June, when a 36-year-old man was detained for his alleged participation in the disturbances. On Thursday, four more suspects were brought into custody. All five were later released, but have been ordered to appear before a judge when required.

Investigation remains open with more arrests possible

The Provincial Information Brigade of the National Police has led the investigation and tracked down the suspected offenders. The inquiry has allowed officers to identify several of the young men who, according to police, incited the crowd to attack the officers.

The case is far from closed. Police sources have warned that the investigation remains active and that further arrests could be made in the coming days. The episode has reignited the debate over security around Mestalla during high-tension matches, a setting that has seen tensions at previous high-profile fixtures.

A familiar problem around Spanish football stadiums

Incidents like the one recorded on 23 May are not isolated in recent Spanish football history, with several top-flight matches preceded by violence outside stadiums. At Mestalla, the combination of crowded streets, drinking at nearby bars and the arrival of the home team's bus creates an environment that is particularly demanding for security operations.

Those involved in this type of disorder face criminal consequences in Spain, where charges of public disorder and assaulting police officers carry heavy penalties when objects capable of causing injury are thrown at law enforcement.