"A total mess": Football fans caught up in 'traffic chaos' across ...

Football fans have become caught up in 'traffic chaos' in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the England v Serbia match this evening (June 16).

There have been reports of train and tram services being stopped, with bus services also 'overcrowded', as over 50,000 fans make their way to the Arena AufSchalke to see England take on Serbia in the UEFA EURO 2024 championship.

Pictures flooded social media of large crowds waiting at bus and tram stops around the city, with reports of services waiting at various stops for over 20 minutes and others being forced off rammed services.

READ MORE Bar brawl involving England and Serbia fans prompts huge police response before Euro 2024 match

There were reports of the tram system to the stadium in Gelsenkirchen becoming under 'serious strain', with many England supporters deciding to walk miles to watch the game instead.

England and Serbia fans arrived at the stadium throughout the evening, with riot police also reportedly in attendance and escorting large groups of supporters.

@macielj92 posted to X: "Chaos in Gelsenkirchen. Trams are blocked up and everyone has been kicked off. And it’s p*****g down."

Football writer @OliverKay wrote: "For any England or Serbia fans who are still in the middle of Gelsenkirchen (or worse still not there yet), I’d recommend you set off on foot if you can. It’s about three miles but the public transport situation is a total mess."

And user @MPaasu posted: "Gelsenkirchen traffic is chaos. Subway has been closed at least temporarily. Train was hour late. Bus is way overcrowded. Have not seen this nowhere else ever before."

@StevieBeasy wrote: "These trams from Gelsenkirchen are f*****g shambles! It’s gonna kick off in a minute," as former sports journalist @adamjshergold posted: "Absolute chaos for England fans in Gelsenkirchen. Trams not moving anywhere out of the station, little info being given. Will be tight for many with kick-off in a couple of hours."

It comes after a scuffle between England and Serbia supporters erupted in Gelsenkirchen earlier on Sunday afternoon. Armed police descended in droves on Weberstrasse as the clash resulted in tables and chairs being hurled.

According to an English police source, the fracas began with England fans attacking Serbs, who subsequently retaliated, reports the Mirror.