Football passion in Nigeria boiled over on Wednesday night as violence erupted in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State following Arsenal’s famous 2-1 away win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg, Footynaija.com reports.
The result confirmed a 5-1 aggregate triumph for Arsenal, sending the Gunners into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years. But the joy among Arsenal fans quickly turned into tension in some parts of Kano, where a heated argument between rival supporters escalated into a violent street fight.
According to a report by Leadership Newspaper, the unrest began shortly after the final whistle. A viral video posted by a Facebook user, Mustapha Moh’d Gujba Banker, captured the moment emotions spilled out of control.
In the footage, young men, identified as fans of both Arsenal and Real Madrid, were seen throwing punches and stones while trading insults in a heated scene.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the argument started over taunts from Arsenal fans celebrating the historic win, which did not sit well with disappointed Madrid supporters.
What began as a as a simple argument soon became a full-blown fight involving different people on both sides.
Report has it that the Kano State Police Command had yet to make any official statement about the incident, as of Thursday morning.
Arsenal’s semi-final berth is a big moment for their fans across the world, but Wednesday’s celebration in Kano ended on a sour note that reminds us how quickly passion can go out of control.