Friday 22 March 2019 10:08, UK
Police found knives and drugs on a coach full of Paris Saint-Germain supporters who descended on South London and caused criminal damage to Wimbledon's Kingsmeadow Stadium ahead of a women's Champions League match.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that one man was arrested for possession of a class A substance before the coach was escorted away from the ground, which was hosting Paris Saint-Germain Women against Chelsea Women on Thursday.
PSG fans were recently banned for two away matches as punishment for vandalism at the recent French League Cup final against Lyon, which included ripping up seats and staining the Groupama Stadium walls with graffiti.
A group of PSG supporters arrived at Kingsmeadow in Norbiton, southwest London, around 8am - just less than 12 hours before the 7.05pm kick-off - and caused criminal damage, but dispersed before police could arrive.
PSG fans were then involved in disorder at both Wimbledon and Waterloo stations before returning to Kingsmeadow before kick-off in the evening, where their coach was searched and weapons including knives and knuckle dusters were discovered.
Chelsea Women subsequently won the Champions League quarter-final first leg 2-0, with men's team defender David Luiz in attendance, and a semi-final tie with either Lyon or Wolfsburg moved a step closer.
A Met Police statement read: "At approximately 08:00hrs on Thursday, March 21 police were called to reports of a group of Paris St Germain (PSG) supporters causing criminal damage at Kingsmeadow Stadium in Kingston.
"Officers attended but all those involved had left the scene. Later in the day, officers were made aware of sporadic instances of disorder involving PSG supporters at both Waterloo and Wimbledon stations.
"Those involved were identified and when they attended Kingsmeadow Stadium this evening they were stopped. A coach they travelled in was searched and weapons, including knives and knuckle dusters, were recovered along with class A drugs.
"One man from the coach was arrested for possession of class A drugs and the remaining passengers were escorted from the area by police."
In a statement released on Friday morning, PSG expressed support for their travelling fans and said a ban was unjustified.
"We repeat that the local authorities have not brought any evidence of wrongdoing, or at least no fact the gravity of which would justify such a ban on attending the match," the club said on their website.
"All of our supporters have been searched, and if any of these searches or facts had been under criminal law, we can imagine that the concerned supporter (s) would not have been able to leave British territory without being disturbed.
"Surprisingly, we note that the club of Chelsea, the morning of the match, did not want the presence of our supporters, arguing of alleged damage to the stadium which are, according to local testimonies, prior to the arrival of our fans in London.
"We express our fullest support to fans of Paris Saint-Germain who, in the middle of the week, had arranged their schedule to come support our women's team and we count on their support during the return match next Wednesday, Paris."
