The Football Association has condemned England fans involved in violence in Portugal on Wednesday night as "an embarrassment".

Videos on social media showed police holding batons and riot shields chasing supporters as a Portugal versus Switzerland Nations League semi-final was screened in a fan zone in Porto.

Witnesses said fans wearing England shirts, in the city ahead of the Three Lions' semi-final against Netherlands this evening in Guimaraes, around 35 miles from Porto, chanted England songs and threw drinks and bottles when Portugal scored.

Image: Supporters were watching Portugal play Switzerland

In the footage, objects can be seen flying through the air in the direction of police who then charge at the fans.

It is the second night supporters have been involved in what have been described as "completely unacceptable" violent clashes with police.


An FA spokesperson said: "The FA strongly condemns the scenes witnessed in Porto overnight. Anyone responsible for these disturbances cannot be seen as true England supporters and are not welcome in football.

"They are an embarrassment to the team and the thousands of well-behaved fans who follow England in the right way."

Police confirmed that two England supporters were arrested after the disturbances.

It comes after senior footballers including England's Harry Maguire warned fans to behave themselves abroad in a FA video entitled "Don't Be That Idiot".

Image: The police were seen storming at fans

In it Maguire told fans to have a good time and added: "There needs to be boundaries and I'm sure they will stick to them".

The Guardian's sports reporter Sean Ingle said fans were chanting the song "10 German bombers".

Will Burns, from Wimbledon, said: "Lots of Portuguese families watching the game in the fan zone, Portugal scored and then England fans started throwing drinks followed by bottles.

"Only one policeman was there. Then all the Portuguese families started running away, carrying their crying children. While England fans sang 'England 'til I die'.

"Embarrassing to be English."

Image: Police and England fans clashing in the Portuguese city of Porto

An England fan, who did not want to be named, said: "When I arrived at the square I saw England fans throwing bottles at the police, they responded by charging at the fans.

"A couple of bystanders were injured, including an old man who had a heavy cut to his forehead

"Police responded aggressively, but they were definitely reacting to being targeted by projectiles."

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs' Council football policing lead, said: "Earlier this evening Portuguese police deployed riot officers against a group of England fans in the main square area of Porto.

Image: A fan is chased by an officer in the fan-zone

"It is believed the fans had been throwing bottles at Portugal fans who were watching the match in the same area.

"This is the second evening in a row where disorder has occurred in Porto. Last night there were issues outside a bar, where bottles were thrown and minor damage was caused. It is completely unacceptable.

"The behaviour we are witnessing is incredibly disappointing and again I would point fans towards the recent video from the FA - 'Don't be that idiot'.

"The behaviour of a small number of the England fans out here continues to tarnish the reputation of the genuine fans who are simply trying to enjoy the football."