Thursday May 15, 2008MANCHESTER - An inquiry was under way on Thursday after football fans went on the rampage, marring the UEFA Cup final.
One fan was stabbed and police made 42 arrests in Manchester city centre during and after Rangers' defeat to Russian opponents Zenit St Petersburg.
And 15 police officers, as well as a police dog, were left nursing a catalogue of injuries as hundreds of riot police and supporters fought running battles.
One senior officer was hit so hard his electronic earpiece was left embedded in his head and had to be removed by doctors.
Another policeman was bottled over the head and another lost his front teeth after being head-butted by a Rangers hooligan.
Other injuries included bruised and cracked ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a broken finger and arm, and cuts needing stitches.
Ambulance crews also came under attack in the violence and two paramedics were reportedly also injured.
Five men arrested for wounding with intent on suspicion of stabbing a rival Russian fan have been released - and it appears the knifeman has escaped.
Sixteen men were under arrest on Thursday morning for public order offences, four for assault and four for violent disorder and affray. There were further arrests for throwing missiles, possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage.
Some may appear in court on Thursday afternoon, after they have sobered up this morning.
Police chiefs said they were left "sickened and disappointed" with the behaviour of some fans.
Across the city centre on Thursday morning streets were strewn with rubbish, cans of beer and broken glass after an estimated 100,000 Rangers fans descended on Manchester for the big game.
Assistant Chief Constable Justine Curran of Greater Manchester Police said: "A minority of thugs have overshadowed what should have been a great occasion."
She added: "I've watched them commit damage, assault my officers and I'm really sickened and disappointed."
Scores of bleary-eyed fans awoke hungover and shivering in the early morning, heading for the train station to begin the journey home, after sleeping in doorways for the night, using their flags as blankets.
Manchester City Council has now ordered an urgent inquiry into Wednesday night's events.
Privately it is known that city officials wanted "anyone but Rangers" to get through to the final.
Publicly the council promised a warm welcome, with a relaxed attitude to fans drinking on the street - normally outlawed - and three fan zones with big screens.
Beer was on tap from off-licences with supporters carrying crates of cheap lager around - Tesco opened at 7am, 18 hours before kick-off.
Excitement mounted all day, as did the alcohol levels, with some fans spending hundreds of pounds on travel and hotels just to watch the game in the fan zones.
Throughout the day the atmosphere had been friendly but when a "technical hitch" hit the screen in Piccadilly Gardens, many fans, already heavily drunk, turned nasty.
Violence broke out at around 7.30pm and the trouble continued for around five hours.
The broken big screen was pelted with bottles, as were riot police as they moved in to try to quell the trouble.
Police and council officials blamed a "minority" of fans for the violence.
Rangers fans blamed the local council's "shambolic" organisation, but another said the behaviour of his fellow supporters left him "ashamed to be a Scotsman".
There were similar dejected scenes in Glasgow, where 25,000 fans had watched the match on giant screens at the club's home ground, Ibrox Stadium. Rangers lost the match 2-0.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council said: "We are having a full inquiry into the failure of the screen in Piccadilly Gardens.
"The vast majority of fans spent a peaceful evening in our city centre in a spirit of friendship and respect. But this has been spoiled by the bad behaviour of a minority. We cannot tolerate missiles and bottles being thrown."
About three times the usual number of council cleaning staff were working 12-hour shifts to clean up the city centre before workers arrived this morning but a mass of rubbish remained in the streets.
Rangers issued a statement on Thursday morning condemning the behaviour of "a small minority" of fans who caused trouble.
Chief executive Martin Bain said: "The club has had discussions with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council in view of incidents in the city last night.
"The police and council praised the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of Rangers fans and estimates suggest there could have been around 200,000 in the city yesterday.
"There was a tremendous atmosphere all around the city and the vast majority deserved credit for the way they behaved.
"The police and council have identified the failure of a big screen in the city as a key point in the evening.
"We are deeply disappointed that a small minority soured what was great carnival atmosphere and this is a view shared by our fans who travelled in unprecedented numbers to Manchester.
"We would like to thank everyone in Manchester who made such a great effort to welcome our fans to the city yesterday."
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