Fan rampage response 'appropriate'

3:19am Friday 16th May 2008

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Police defended their response to rampaging Rangers fans as "appropriate" as they blamed a minority of yobs for violent clashes which marred the Uefa Cup final.

The Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, Justine Curran, said they had no choice but to act against supporters who she said behaved like a "baying pack of wolves".

CCTV footage in Manchester city centre showed a lone officer being set upon by fans who kicked him on the ground as he faced up to about 200 charging supporters.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the yobs were a "disgrace" who had jeopardised England's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup finals but some Rangers fans claimed they were jostled by police before any trouble broke out and that officers over-reacted.

Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser questioned whether the deployment of riot police was necessary but changed his tack after viewing the released video footage and condemned the attacks as "deplorable".

One Russian fan was stabbed inside the City of Manchester Stadium shortly before the kick-off of the game between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg and 42 arrests were made after running battles in the streets.

Fifteen officers were left nursing a catalogue of injuries and a police dog seriously injured a paw as it trod on broken glass.

A further eight people were detained by British Transport Police after disorder broke out at a number of North West train stations.

Greater Manchester Police later confirmed that 11 Rangers fans, all men, were charged with various offences - seven for public order, one with assault, one with being drunk in a sports ground and one for throwing a missile.

A further 11 Rangers supporters were bailed pending further enquiries and 12 were given cautions. Seven men, including one Zenit fan, were released without charge.

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