# 1996 Trafalgar Square riots

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1996 football riots in London

Part of a series on Football hooliganism in the United Kingdom History 1980 Scottish Cup final riot 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence 2007 AS Roma–Manchester United F.C. conflict 2008 UEFA Cup final riots 2017 EFL League One play-off final pitch invasion Battle of Copenhagen Battle of Maze Hill Heysel Stadium disaster Lansdowne Road football riot Luton riot Marseille riot Trafalgar Square riots Upton Park riot Firms in England 6.57 Crew Arsenal's firms Aston Villa Hardcore Baby Squad Blades Business Crew Bushwackers County Road Cutters Headhunters Gremlins Hull City Psychos Inter City Firm Leeds United Service Crew Men in Gear The Muckers Naughty Forty Red Army Seaburn Casuals Section 5 Suicide Squad York Nomad Society Zulu Warriors Firms in Scotland Capital City Service Gorgie Aggro Section B Firms in Wales Soul Crew Individuals Dainton Connell Bill Gardner Carlton Leach Andy Nicholls Cass Pennant Media Among the Thugs Calling card The Firm (1989 film) The Firm (2009 film) The Football Factory (film) The Football Factory (novel) Green Street Green Street 2 Green Street 3 I.D. I.D.2 The Real Football Factories The Rise and Fall of a White Collar Hooligan Legal responses Football Spectators Act 1989 Football (Offences) Act 1991 Football (Disorder) Act 2000 Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 Related topics Casuals Casuals United Football Lads Alliance Clifford Stott Football portal v t e

The **1996 Trafalgar Square riots** in [London](/source/London) occurred on 26 June 1996. After the [England national football team](/source/England_national_football_team) was defeated by [Germany](/source/Germany_national_football_team) in the [knockout stage](/source/UEFA_Euro_1996_knockout_stage#Germany_vs_England) of [UEFA Euro 1996](/source/UEFA_Euro_1996) at [Wembley Stadium](/source/Old_Wembley), [hooligans](/source/Football_hooliganism) took over [Trafalgar Square](/source/Trafalgar_Square) in the [West End of London](/source/West_End_of_London). Up to 2,000 hooligans, many drunk, pelted police and civilians with bottles, smashed windows and shops and overturned cars.

The [Metropolitan Police](/source/Metropolitan_Police) deployed its public order unit in riot gear, and they were confronted by the hooligans. Sixty-six people were injured and over 200 arrests were made.[1]

Amongst the hooligan firms held responsible for the Trafalgar Square riot were [Chelsea Headhunters](/source/Chelsea_Headhunters).[2]

The events were a familiar flashback to the large-scale [football violence in the country](/source/Football_hooliganism_in_the_United_Kingdom) during the 1980s. However, the rioting was the only notable incident that happened during the Euro 1996 championship, which was otherwise peaceful and orderly.[3]

As well as the rioting in London, violence also occurred that day in several other places in the country, including [Swindon](/source/Swindon) and [Bedford](/source/Bedford), where [looting](/source/Looting) occurred. In [Shirley, West Midlands](/source/Shirley%2C_West_Midlands), hooligans threw bricks at an [Aldi](/source/Aldi) (German) supermarket. In [Brighton](/source/Brighton), a Russian student was stabbed five times by a hooligan who thought he was German.[4]

## See also

- [Poll Tax riots](/source/Poll_Tax_riots)

- [2009 Upton Park riot](/source/2009_Upton_Park_riot)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Boggan, Steve (28 June 1996). ["Rioting is blamed on media jingoism"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/rioting-is-blamed-on-media-jingoism-1339100.html). independent.co.uk. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/rioting-is-blamed-on-media-jingoism-1339100.html) from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Hopkins, Nick (10 November 1999). ["Thugs target big Scotland v England game, police say"](https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/nov/10/newsstory.sport6). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved 5 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Euro 96 – the model football tournament"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/hooligans/60451.stm). *BBC News*. 26 February 1998. Retrieved 28 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Devi, Sharmila (27 June 1996). ["UK soccer fans riot after Euro '96 loss"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/06/27/UK-soccer-fans-riot-after-Euro-96-loss/2543835848000/). www.upi.com. Retrieved 28 May 2018.

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