Bundesliga journalist, Archie Rhind-Tutt, has taken to Twitter in an attempt to change the narrative building around Koln fans that they went on a ‘rampage’ through London, saying that the overwhelming majority enjoyed the game peacefully and were not aware that stadium arrangements in England were different to what they are used to in Germany.
Making their return to Europe after a 25-year absence, a lot of which they spent fighting relegation, it was no surprise that the Koln fans were keen to see their team perform – especially against a side more used to being in the Champions League.
Allocated only 2,900 tickets, thousands were desperate to get into the ground to see their team play at the Emirates. Anecdotal reports of German fans buying Arsenal shirts in order to get inside were all over Twitter while some Koln fans even changed their phone wallpaper just in case they were asked to ‘prove’ they were Arsenal fans.
Rhind-Tutt explains more in the following thread:
20,000 Köln fans did not go on the rampage tonight at the Emirates – that did not happen.
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 14, 2017
The best description of what went on, from what I saw and the people I've spoken to, is this from @barneyronay. pic.twitter.com/UrNoKrg09f
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 14, 2017
Köln is a football crazy city – dominated by 1. FC Köln. This a club that still averaged gates of over 40,000 in the 2nd division in 12/13.
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
Playing against a club with the prestige of Arsenal in a competitive game just 5 years after being relegated was a fairytale.
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
I know Köln fans who booked flights, trains without tickets to the game as soon as the fixture was confirmed. Just desperate to be in London
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
Know Köln fans who didn't realise this was different in England. When they found out, didn't wear shirts to stadium + bought Arsenal scarves
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
Now equally, there is a hardcore faction who have, er, "had their moments" in the past… pic.twitter.com/GDXLAEhxIZ
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
This whole thing hangs too on what people saw first hand / evidence out there. For example, this: https://t.co/Z0fAizCmNo
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
Also pretty to clear to see that stuff happened tonight which was awful but blaming the majority of Köln fans would be wrong.
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
I’ve done it myself, though I didn’t (and still don’t) think much of what some England fans did in Germany in March. https://t.co/BBzjHiewnB
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
But another general thing: no matter what Köln said to their fans, they were powerless. The fans weren't going to miss this.
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) September 15, 2017
Arsenal are expected to receive a fine from UEFA after they were unable to stop the away fans gaining access to the home sections.