Police detained 84 people during overnight celebrations in Barcelona to celebrate the Catalan side’s Champions League win, police said Sunday. They were arrested for throwing objects, damaging bus shelters and other street furniture, public disorder or attacking police, Catalan police said in a statement.
Around 130 people were injured during the all-night celebrations, most of them lightly, a local emergency services spokeswoman said. Thirty-seven police were among the injured. Some 50,000 people packed Barcelona’s cental streets following the Catalan giant’s 3-1 win over Manchester United at London’s Wembley Stadium, according to the police statement.
They erupted into cheers, launched fireworks and brandished imitation trophies as first Pedro, then Lionel Messi and finally David Villa banged the ball into the net. On the eve of the match, police cleared the Plaza de Catalunya of an encampment set up by hundreds of demonstrators decrying Spain’s economic crisis, clashing with some who blocked city cleaning trucks. Police said they had to dismantle the tents in readiness for the Barcelona victory party. Barcelona will party on through Sunday when the players make a victorious homecoming parade.
Celebrations begin at 5.30pm (1530 GMT) in Barcelona’s port and wrap up with a musical spectacle in the Camp Nou at 10pm (2000 GMT).
