Betis

Both sides have a player sent off as first half between Real Betis and Como descends into violence.

A preseason friendly between Spain’s Real Betis and Italian club Como got extra heated, with players exchanging punches and causing a mass scuffle.

The Italian club are managed by former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, while Betis are managed by former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

There were several rough exchanges in the first half of the match at La Linea de la Concepcion in southern Spain on Wednesday, and Betis player Pablo Fornals and Como midfielder Maximo Perrone then got into an altercation entering halftime.

They had a few brief words to each other and then started exchanging blows.

Players from both teams rushed in and the altercation escalated. The benches were cleared, with substitutes and staff members entering the field, some trying to break up the fighting.

It took several moments before order was re-established. The referee sent off a player from each team.

“We are competitive and both teams want to win, but in the end there’s a line you can’t cross in these matches,” Betis midfielder Sergi Altimira said. “They were making many fouls, stopping the match all the time.”

Como, which will face Barcelona in another preseason match on Sunday, won the friendly 3-2.

Former Spain international Fabregas played for Arsenal between 2003 and 2011, while Pellegrini was Pep Guardiola’s predecessor at Man City.

A so-called friendly between Real Betis and Como descended into chaos after players from both sides were seen throwing punches at one another.

The Spanish and Italian clubs were playing their penultimate friendlies before the competitive season starts for them.

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But Wednesday evening proved the two sides had certainly found their competitive edge in pre-season.

Cesc Fabregas‘ Serie A side won the clash 3-2, but not before trying to go 12 rounds with their rivals after a stunning brawl broke out at the end of the first half.

Former West Ham star Pablo Fornals was at the centre of the brawl as he exchanged blows with Máximo Perrone.

The rivals were seen squaring up to one another before they got involved in a shoving match.

That was abruptly ended when Fornals appeared to PUNCH Perrone, with the Argentine then trying strike the 29-year-old.

However, he was unable to do so as Betis and Como players rushed over to intervene, before many of them also ended up in grappling matches of their own while trying to diffuse the situation.

There was one unfortunately funny moment in the melee as Cucho Hernandez came flying in to try and land a punch on a rival, only to punch his own team-mate, Natan, in the face instead.

Fornals avoided being sent off despite landing the first blow, with the same lack of punishment also going to Hernandez following his attempted flying punch.

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Meanwhile, former Manchester City star Perrone was not so lucky and was sent for an early shower.

In the aftermath, ex-Arsenal star Hector Bellerin tried to speak to the referee to get the situation under control.

But the Spaniard instead became more and more animated himself as he grew frustrated with the referee after he had also sent him off.

The 30-year-old was guided away from the official while still protesting, before tempers between the teams flared again by the tunnel.

Bellerin’s red card was reversed before the end of the first half.

It remains to be seen whether any retrospective punishment could be enforced.

Europa Conference League runner-up Betis take on newly-promoted Elche in their La Liga opener.

On the other hand, Como – who recently “banished” Dele Alli from their squad – will play Suditrol in the first round of the Coppa Italia before facing Lazio in their Serie A opener.

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Police arrested 28 fans in the Polish city of Wroclaw after clashes between Chelsea and Real Betis fans before the Uefa Conference League final.

Hundreds of fans clashed in Wroclaw Market Square on Wednesday afternoon but police quickly intervened.

It had been initially reported that a water cannon was used but Wroclaw City Hall has confirmed it was on “standby as a precautionary measure” but “the situation did not escalate to a level that required their deployment”.

“The strong and visible presence of police, including British liaison officers and negotiators, was effective in de-escalating tensions,” it added.

The local authority said “order has since been maintained across the city” and the match at the Stadion Wroclaw reached capacity of 41,000 with no further disturbances reported, while 5,500 people watched at a fan zone in the city.

An estimate 70,000 fans arrived in the city in the south-west of Poland for the final, a number that covers ticket holders and those attending fan zones and other events around the city.

Chelsea won the third tier European competition 4-1 on Wednesday night.

“For the rest of the night, police will remain on duty in full strength,” the city hall added.

Lower Silesian Police said in a statement: “At this moment, we can confirm the arrest of 28 participants in the incident. No one will escape legal responsibility and the police will react decisively and appropriately to the situation.”

On Tuesday evening, several clashes between Chelsea and Betis fans took place near Solny Square.

Riot police intervened using tear gas to disperse the crowds. Chairs and glass bottles were thrown as the confrontation lasted for around five minutes.

There were two further clashes in the evening, with minor damage caused by no major injuries reported. Seven fans including, four Spanish supporters, were arrested.

“Zero tolerance for violence on our streets!” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X, external.

“I thank the police for their decisive actions against the hooligans in Chelsea and Betis shirts in Wroclaw. We warn you: if necessary, the police will be even more ruthless!”