Following a basketball match between KK Vienna and Zadar players in the ABA League on Friday night in Vienna, a rival fan group targeted Croatian fans for an ambush. Reports indicate that the incident was set to take place at the Traiskirchen exit on the Austrian A2 Southern Motorway, which runs from Vienna towards Graz and Slovenia, with the goal of attacking Croatian supporters. Austrian media reported that the planned ambush was a concerning situation that could have led to severe violence.

Eyewitness accounts detailed a scene that included 50 to 60 masked hooligans equipped with wooden baseball bats and metal rods, all coordinated to surround Croatian fans on the A2 motorway near Traiskirchen. Upon sighting the police intervention, the hooligans fled into their vehicles and escaped the scene. Reports indicate that these individuals had been parked on a nearby road, preparing for the ambush and subsequently attempted to avoid the police by retreating through fields adjacent to the motorway.

This incident raises alarms regarding fan violence and safety during sporting events in Austria, and highlights ongoing tensions between rival fan groups. The prompt action of the Austrian police not only prevented potential violence but also underlined the importance of law enforcement in maintaining security during such events. This situation illustrates the darker side of sports fandom, where rivalry can escalate to threats of violence, necessitating vigilant policing.