Valencia have closed their ticket office today
Six Celtic fans have been arrested ahead of their Europa League clash with Valencia on Thursday night after clashing with police.
Videos circulating on social media show a group of travelling Celtic fans involved in clashes with Spanish riot police on Wednesday night.
Spanish police doing there best to keep everyone safe absolute joke @CelticFC @StandForCeltic @Celtic1888News @CelticFCSLO @Kieran_Celtic @paulthetim pic.twitter.com/Xz6trj5tHF
— Daniel (@dan_mck98) February 21, 2019
The Jefatura Superior de Policía, police headquarters in Valencia have confirmed that five Celtic fans were arrested for disorderly conduct and another for alleged drug trafficking.
Early on Thursday, Valencia confirmed that it would not open the ticket office at the Mestalla that day for safety reasons.
“For safety reasons, Valencia CF have taken the decision not to open the ticket office at Mestalla today,” it said.
“Valencia CF apologise for any inconvenience that this measure, which has been taken with the knowledge of UEFA, the police and Celtic FC in the interests of fan safety, may cause some of our supporters.”
The police in Valencia have been criticised for the force used when dealing with disorderly fans. A spokesman for the National Police in Valencia has said they will be “self-critical” and take any necessary action against officers who overstepped the mark.
“If there are officers who have not acted as they should, it gives the whole force a bad image,” she said.
Thousands of Celtic fans have travelled to Valencia for the second leg of their Europa League knockout tie, which Valencia currently lead 2-0. They have been informed that there will be no fan zone for supporters without a match ticket.
