Wales football fans angry after 32 arrested in Armenia
A group of Wales supporters were taken into police custody while they were in the Armenian city of Yerevan.
Before the European Championships qualifying match, over 30 Welsh football supporters were detained in Armenia.
Around 1,200 fans have arrived in Yerevan, the main city, for the game on Saturday.
The FAW has declared that 32 supporters have been apprehended, and the Foreign Office is playing an active role.
Police officers from South Wales in Yerevan have announced that they have not yet taken any measures against the detained supporters and are currently investigating the situation.
Lefi Gruffudd's supporter expressed his fury, stating that it was totally unexpected when he and his group of friends got apprehended after a fun night out in the town.
A different supporter proposed that approximately 25 individuals were lined up next to a wall and taunted with the notion of receiving a half-year prison term.
Last night, while we were walking back to the hotel quite late, the police cars stopped us and took us in their vehicles. They detained us until 3.30 this afternoon, and we were released on Saturday. Mr. Gruffudd recounted the incident.
in jail for supporting Azerbaijan. According to reports, several fans were stopped and questioned by Armenian police for wearing Azerbaijan football jerseys during Euro 2020. Some fans claimed that the police officers were mocking and teasing them about facing six months imprisonment for supporting the rival team. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many people condemning the police officers' behavior.
They showed us disrespect and gave us no access to water, phones or anything throughout the entire night.
We were arrested without any clear explanation and despite our continuous questioning, we have received no answers. We have been unable to get any sleep and are extremely frustrated.
He expressed his surprise by saying that it was unexpected and almost shocking news to hear. Additionally, he mentioned that they had a strong affection toward the location.
Last night, we enjoyed the company of the bar patrons and the ambiance was delightful. However, we were all taken aback by what we experienced.
According to Lefi Gruffudd, he was having a good time in the city and everyone had been kind until the moment of the arrest.
He said: "I discovered that they allege there was a brawl involving the Welsh supporters, but we have no knowledge of it, and I don't believe it actually happened. However, that's the excuse they've given us."
It is believed that a lot of people were taken into custody on Friday, and a portion of those individuals were released at 3pm the following day, which was before the 6pm game start time.
"I'll be truthful with you. I'm still a little annoyed about the situation," another supporter, Gerallt Dafydd, expressed.
He had gone out with some of his friends to a bar and had a couple of beverages.
While they were standing by for a cab, he recounted a sudden police intervention, exclaiming: "They appeared out of thin air and acted quite forcefully, putting handcuffs on us all."
"They forced us into the back of a police vehicle and even inside the car, they were physically abusive towards me by hitting me in the face and back when I was trying to speak. As a result, it was quite a distressing situation for me."
Gerallt Dafydd expressed uncertainty regarding the cause behind the detentions.
He talked about how around 25 supporters were lined up against a wall and the police were taking pictures while laughing, and this seemed to happen often.
According to Mr. Dafydd, the fans became highly emotional when they suspected that the officers were intentionally misleading them with false information, claiming that they would receive either a six week or six month sentence.
He strongly believed that supporters have not committed any wrongdoing. He further said, "They presented us with a written declaration, confirming that we have not committed any offence. We were asked to sign it, acknowledging our innocence."
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) confirmed that they are aware of the circumstances and are constantly communicating with the police who are in charge of the traveling fans' security. Additionally, they are working together with Football Supporters' Association Cymru to keep a close watch on the situation.
"FSA Cymru serves as the official fan embassy that communicates with the local authorities and the South Wales Police for coordinating with the community's law enforcement."
According to Supt Steve Rees from South Wales Police, who is currently in Armenia, there was an event that took place in the early hours of Saturday in Yerevan, resulting in 32 Welsh supporters being taken into custody.
We're collaborating with the fan embassy and nearby law enforcement to investigate the incident more deeply.
Welsh supporters are highly regarded for their conduct when visiting foreign countries, hence this behavior is quite unusual.
FAW has stated that they are keeping an eye on the situation following the apprehension of the supporters.
During this away game, a group of police officers from Wales will still be present and noticeable to the supporters who are travelling. They will offer guidance and support to ensure that the fans are secure.
According to the statement from the Foreign Office, they are providing assistance to the loved ones of multiple Welsh football enthusiasts who are currently in Armenia. They are also staying in touch with the authorities in the area.
A recent event occurred after a woman notified about an upsetting taxi ride on Friday. According to her, the driver joined her in the backseat and demanded "sexual favours" in lieu of payment.
Wales may secure a place in Euro 2024 in Germany with a triumph over Armenia, provided that Latvia defeats Croatia.
With a win on Saturday and defeating Turkey on Tuesday, the team would secure their place in the tournament and other outcomes would have no effect on their qualification.
