Five Manchester United football fans are arrested in Spain over a drunken rampage in Seville last year after flying back to the country for a holiday

• Group of British football supporters arrested at Alicante Airport over violence
• Five fans taken into custody 18 months after Spanish court issues arrest warrants
• Manchester United fans arrived back in Spain for a holiday and were picked up
• They failed to attend a court summons after Champions League game in Seville

Five Manchester United football fans accused of a drunken rampage in Spain last year, have been arrested after flying back to the country for a holiday.

The Brits were held on arrest warrants at Alicante Airport as they arrived on the Costa Blanca on a flight from Manchester.

A court in Seville issued the warrants after they failed to attend a court summons to be tried over damage they allegedly committed in February 2018 in Seville when Man U played a Champions League tie in the city.

Spanish police sources said the arrests took place on July 12, despite the detentions the detentions only being made public today. 

A spokesman for Spain’s National Police said: ‘National Police have arrested five British men at Alicante-Elche Airport after they arrived on a flight from Manchester. They are aged 30 to 32.

‘There was a warrant out for their arrests, which had been issued by a court in Sevilla after they failed to turn up for a trial after they were accused of public disorder offences, criminal damage and assaulting police which they allegedly committed in Seville in February last year.

One of five Manchester United fans being arrested at Alicante Airport over a drunken rampage in Seville last February 

‘The five men were arrested during the early hours of February 23 in the city.

‘The suspects were accused of throwing stones against the front of a hotel causing damage to it.

‘Before being arrested they allegedly pushed a number of motorbikes parked in the vicinity to the ground.

‘After a chase on foot through the streets of Seville, police managed to arrest them.

‘When they were arrested they resisted and damaged a police vehicle.

‘When they failed to attend their trial, a court in Seville issued arrest warrants at the start of last month ordering police to detain the five suspects.

‘They were held as they touched down on Spanish soil and have been handed over to the judiciary so the courts can decide the next move.’

Five Manchester United fans were taken into custody after returning to Spain for a holiday 18 months after allegedly causing damage to the city of Seville after a Champions League game 

It was not immediately clear this afternoon if they have already appeared before a judge and been remanded in prison ahead of an expected transfer to court in Seville so they can be tried, or whether they have been given bail again.

They are understood to have been bailed without any travel restrictions but ordered to turn up for their trial after the first time they were arrested.

Courts only deal with emergency cases in August in Spain when most judges are away on holiday and judicial officials said they were unable to offer any information on the case and the current whereabouts of the British men. 

In February last year when they were held, a Seville town hall spokesman said: ‘The police tried to calm them down but were surrounded by the hooligans who began to insult the officers and push them.’

Describing how the Brits fled after police back-up arrived and four of them were detained after a chase despite resisting arrest, he added: ‘One of the officers suffered a hand injury for which he was subsequently treated.’

Then-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho with to Paul Pogba during the 0-0 Champions League match against Sevilla at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in February 2018

He also revealed the fifth suspect – held after police discovered where the Brits were staying and put a watch on their accommodation – had broken a police car windscreen after jumping on the vehicle in his bid to escape arrest.

The violence in Seville happened on the same night a police officer was killed during ugly clashes in Bilbao between Athletic Bilbao and Spartak Moscow fans ahead of their Europa League tie.

The officer, thought to have died following a heart attack, was named at the time as father-of-two Inocencio Arias Garcia.

Man U drew their Champions League away tie against Seville in February last year 0-0.

The men who were arrested had stayed on in the Spanish city following the Feb 21 game.

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