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 Monday, 6 October 2008
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Yobs blamed for UEFA Cup fans' rampage

Last Updated: Thursday, 15 May 2008, 16:04 GMT
- Search: Rangers UEFA violence

An inquiry is under way after football fans went on the rampage, marring the UEFA Cup final in Manchester
An inquiry is under way after football fans went on the rampage, marring the UEFA Cup final in Manchester

A small minority of yobs were to blame for the violence which marred the UEFA Cup final in Manchester, police and council chiefs said on Thursday.

Hundreds of Rangers fans went on the rampage when a big screen showing the match in the city's Piccadilly Gardens failed to work just before kick-off.

Fifteen officers were injured, as well as a police dog, and 42 arrests were made as hundreds of riot police and supporters fought running battles. One fan of Rangers' Russian opponents, Zenit St Petersburg, was stabbed but his injuries were not life-threatening.

The match commander, Assistant Chief Constable Justine Curran, said the response of her officers was "appropriate".

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She said: "It was challenging and we were stretched. Our officers did come under a degree of violent attacks. I am happy we responded appropriately. We could not let those minor disturbances affect the day for everybody.

"I am satisfied our reaction was appropriate. I watched the scenes in Piccadilly Gardens from the control room. I saw officers chased down a street by a baying mob of around 200 people. We had to do something."

The screen that failed was one of eight mounted in the city to accommodate more than 100,000 ticketless fans who descended from Glasgow.

Council leader Sir Richard Leese said the screen went blank 15 minutes before the 7.45pm kick-off but had been working throughout the day. Around 11,000 fans were transported by shuttle bus to an alternative screen set up rapidly at the Velodrome near the City of Manchester of Stadium - but a group of supporters stayed and vented their fury at the police.

Sir Richard said: "We are clearly disappointed that a great night was soured by a number of small people.

"Whether it was the big screen going down or a problem with alcohol the behaviour of this small minority of yobs was not acceptable. If you are going to put the blame on anyone then it has to be on these people."