SOCCER
Peru players involved in skirmish with Spanish police
Spanish police clashed with Peru national team players in Madrid after fans gathered outside to greet the team, according to players and video shared on social media.
Peru national team players were involved in a fracas with Spanish police at the squad’s hotel in Madrid on Monday after fans gathered outside to greet the team, according to players and video shared on social media.
The Peruvians are using the Spanish capital as a base for two European based friendly matches, the first of which was a 2-0 defeat to Germany in Mainz last Friday, while the second is on Tuesday against Morocco at Atletico Madrid’s Civitas Metropolitano Stadium.
The altercation broke out when hundreds of fans approached the team’s hotel after the team had wrapped up a training session.
“We wanted to greet the people and (the police) started hitting us,” Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese told Peruvian TV.
In videos shared widely on social media, midfielder Yoshimar Yotun can be seen arguing with a policeman who then pushed him. Other players and police then became involved.
Police also pushed striker Alex Valera while he was picking up a flag, according to one of the videos.
There was no official response from the Madrid Municipal Police but the Peruvian Football Federation issued a statement adding their support for Gallese: “The FPF is in complete solidarity with and supports our national team player Pedro Gallese, whom we have been accompanying since the incident took place [...]”.
“We also reiterate that we are respectful of the authorities and procedures of each country we visit. For this reason, we are at the full disposal of the internal and external control bodies to help clarify what happened”,