The Metropolitan Police Federation has condemned England supporters who attacked officers after last night’s Euro 2020 final defeat as “thugs not fans”.

The body, which represents thousands of London’s police officers, tweeted: “These people should be ashamed of themselves.

“They are not fans. They are thugs. We wish our injured colleagues well.”

The Met Police said 19 of officers were injured when they “confronted volatile crowds” in the capital after the game and 49 people had been arrested for a “variety of offences”.

Earlier on Sunday, fans were pictured in London’s Leicester Square throwing bottles and road cones, leaving the area littered with rubbish.

Police said some people in the capital had been “jumping off street lamps or hoardings”, something officers warned “could easily end in injury”.

Before kick-off, up to 100 ticketless fans broke through security barriers at Wembley to get into the stadium while there were reports of match stewards being abused.

Junior minister Edward Argar told Sky News that these fans do not represent the majority of supporters.

He said: “I think the police did a fantastic job and sadly we saw a number of police officers, as I understand it, injured last night and I think there have been 45 arrests made so far, and action will be taken against those who have perpetrated these offences, who broke the rules or broke the law.

“The police did, I think, a fantastic job – they know what they are doing, they know how to operationally police events.

“It is sad when a very small number of people, a tiny minority, bring the sport into disrepute by trying to do something like this.”

He added: “Again, I would say they are not reflective of the fans of our national game and our national team.

“The police will take, I know, all action necessary against those who have been arrested where they can prove an offence has been committed.”

Related posts:

Blood clot victim’s sister ‘very angry’ but says everyone should have Oxford jab ‘Significant milestone’ as Morrisons widens plastic bag ban to include ‘bags for life’ COP26 conference ‘last, best opportunity to get real’ on the climate, says John Kerry Revealed: The areas with the highest and lowest COVID vaccination rates for over-50s Gov says new online safety bill will keep people safe but not everyone is convinced Girl, 15, dies after incident at go-karting centre Seventy-five people have died in autism and learning disability units in England since 2015, Sky News reveals Porsche drivers sentenced for speeding at more than 100mph in YouTube video Banksy designs and sells T-shirt to fund four accused of toppling slaver statue Another 633 Omicron cases found in the UK in biggest daily jump of the variant Police officers disciplined for breaking COVID rules People ‘don’t misremember abuse by a prince’ – Giuffre lawyer criticises health records request