A man in his 30s was arrested by West Midlands Police on suspicion of fraud during the European Championships. The incident occurred around midnight when officials began guiding groups of athletes and fans toward buses for transport.
At that time, many spectators were still present in the stadium, including families with young children and individuals with mobility challenges, according to AOL. A fan named Ray said the situation was embarrassing and disorganized. She noted that people were left without information or guidance for an extended period.
Ray and her husband had spent more than £100 on tickets for each day of the event and had invested around £2,000 in total. They had attended previous events at the same venue, including the Commonwealth Games. The couple said they had come to the stadium on Thursday and Friday, and had expected things to run smoothly.
When they approached the bus area, they noticed a large presence of armed police officers. An Irish family sitting nearby expressed concern about the unusual situation.
Ray said she told them that this level of security was not normal.
The event had been scheduled to proceed as planned, but the unexpected arrest and lack of communication caused confusion among attendees. Many fans were left stranded in the stadium, unable to leave due to the sudden security measures.
Some individuals were reportedly waiting for hours without clear updates on their situation.
The incident raised questions about how events are managed when unexpected issues arise.
West Midlands Police did not provide further details beyond the arrest of the man in his 30s. Organizers were criticized for not informing fans about what was happening during the delay.
The event continued despite the disruption, but many attendees expressed frustration with the handling of the situation.
It was not clear if the arrest had any direct connection to the events or whether it was a separate matter.
The European Championships were held at a major stadium in the West Midlands region of England.
This was not the first time fans had complained about poor communication during large-scale events.
Some athletes also reported being affected by the delay and were unable to leave the venue as planned.
The incident highlighted the importance of clear protocols for managing disruptions during high-profile sporting events.
IMAGE: 2026 European Figure Skating Championships. Photo: Bearas / Wikimedia, taken 2026-01-17, CC BY-SA 4.0