Inquiry after cup final sparks violent rampage

An inquiry was under way today after hours of violence marred the Uefa Cup Final in Manchester.

One fan was stabbed and police made 42 arrests in hours of violence in Manchester city centre during and after Glasgow 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.

Watch Greater Manchester Police footage of the rioting

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 are currently under arrest 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 this afternoon, after they have sobered up this morning.

Police chiefs said they were left "sickened and disappointed" with the behaviour of some fans.

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 remains in the streets.

Across the city centre this 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.

An army of council workers will begin moving the mountains of rubbish but the Rangers' fans own reputation - and that of the city's for hosting events - may take longer to clean up.

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 last 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.

On their return to Scotland, the Rangers players are expected to take part in a parade of honour on an open-top bus, which will travel through the city.

Paul Johnson, 25, from the Knightswood area of Glasgow, said: "I'm absolutely gutted. We were so close to a historic victory for our club but we just couldn't perform on the night.

"It was just a dream for us and we didn't quite make it."