The Trafalgar Square riots of 1996 were the most serious outbreak of football hooliganism in England since the 1980s, resulting in 66 injuries and over 200 arrests.
Key Facts
- Date
- 26 June 1996
- Hooligans involved
- Up to 2,000
- Injuries
- 66 people
- Arrests
- Over 200 people
- Trigger
- England defeated by Germany at UEFA Euro 1996
- Notable hooligan firm
- Chelsea Headhunters
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
On 26 June 1996, England was eliminated from UEFA Euro 1996 after losing to Germany in a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium. The defeat, combined with widespread intoxication among fans gathered in central London, created the conditions for mass disorder.
Up to 2,000 hooligans took over Trafalgar Square in London, pelting police and civilians with bottles, smashing shop windows, and overturning cars. The Metropolitan Police deployed its public order unit in riot gear to confront the crowd. Violence also spread to Swindon, Bedford, Brighton, and the West Midlands that same day.
Sixty-six people were injured and more than 200 arrests were made. The riots drew comparisons to the widespread football violence of the 1980s, though they remained the sole major incident of disorder during an otherwise peaceful Euro 1996 tournament.