Less than 24 hours after being praised for their model behaviour by the Portuguese, England supporters in the Algarve reverted to type last night, engaging in running battles with riot police.
Ten Britons were arrested for public order offences after the fans, who had been drinking heavily, began throwing bottles outside a bar in Albufeira.
Initial attempts to calm the situation failed and police in riot gear were deployed to break up the crowd.
Several fans were handcuffed and marched away from the scene. The street outside the La Bamba bar was strewn with bottles and broken glass.
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It was the first serious incident involving English fans in Portugal since the Euro 2004 tournament began at the weekend and a contrast to the previous day when not a single arrest was made after England’s stunning last-minute defeat by France.
Alexandre Coimbra, the Portuguese national police spokesman, said yesterday: “The British fans were fantastic, they showed how to lose a game with great fair play and dignity. They facilitated our police mission. I hope they can give an example for other fans here in Portugal.”
The trouble was in the south of the country where thousands of English fans are staying in tourist accommodation during the tournament.
Captain Manuel Jorge, a police spokesman said a crowd of English fans had been drinking in the street near the La Bamba bar at around 1.30am. He said: “They began throwing bottles at the police and we had to send in the horses to bring the situation under control.
“We arrested 12 people, ten Britons, one Portuguese and a Russian.”
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In London, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said the British nationals had been detained for public disturbance-related matters. “We are in touch with the authorities and consular assistance will be offered in the normal way,” she added.
The ugly scenes in Portugal are a repeat of the trouble that erupted across England yesterday after the national team’s 2-1 defeat.
Dozens of people were arrested and police came under attack with bricks and bottles and patrol cars were set alight as serious disturbances broke out in town centres as far apart as Croydon, South London, and Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
Police today charged three men in connection with those clashes. They are due to appear before Wakefield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.