Olimpija Ljubljana routed Croatia's Rijeka 5:0 at home on 29 August to advance to the league phase of the UEFA Conference League, but the match was marred by rioting in which seven police officers were injured and there was considerable damage done to the stadium.

Problems started even before the sold-out match, as organised groups of ultras clashed in front of the Stožice Stadium in northern Ljubljana. Members of the riot police had to use force to break up the fight, detaining one person.

Minor offence proceedings have been initiated against the man, a Croatian citizen, and criminal charges have been pressed against him over the damage done to the police van in which he was taken into custody, the Ljubljana Police Department said on 30 August.

The rioting continued as the match started, with the ultras using powerful pyrotechnics, throwing flares onto the pitch and stands, ripping out chairs and throwing them at the police officers as well as setting them on fire.

For security reasons, the match was suspended in the 63rd minute and the referee ordered that the stands occupied by the visiting ultras of the Rijeka football club, called Armada, be emptied.

Members of the riot police escorted the visiting ultras to their vehicles and then out of the Ljubljana area. Seven police officers sustaining light injuries during the rioting, the police said.

The police continue with their inquiries, identifying the perpetrators of the attacks on the police officers.

They noted a major blunder by the organiser of the match, as the relevant inspector has reported that the number of security guards in and around the stadium was only two-thirds of the planned and required number.

According to RTV Slovenija, Armada members have caused an estimated €50,000 in damage by throwing flares and ripping out seats. They destroyed around 300 seats and damaged the pitch, the protective net behind the goal and the goal itself.

The police also had to intervene in the stadium with tear gas before the match started as the ultras were throwing flares at the Olimpija fans and they even threw some flares among other people who came to watch the match.

The fixture saw Olimpija take a commanding 4:0 lead against the favoured opponent from Rijeka before half-time, and then scoring another goal in the 47th minute to earn their second consecutive berth to the league phase of the UEFA Conference League. This was after they squeezed out a 1:1 away draw in Rijeka.

Apart from Olimpija, the Slovenian champions Celje have also advanced to the league phase of the UEFA Conference League by beating the Armenian champions Pyunik 4:1 at home for an aggregate 4:2 win, while Maribor were eliminated by Sweden's Djurgardens.