Police inquiry as United fans run riot at Stoke City
POLICE are investigating after videos of Manchester United fans trashing parts of the Britannia Stadium were posted on the internet.
The mobile phone clips - which have now been removed on YouTube - show United fans throwing waste bins and plastic beer bottles in the South Stand during half-time of their Boxing Day match against Stoke City.
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OUT OF CONTROL: United fans in the South Stand at half-time. Below, Superintendent Andy Franks.
The YouTube footage had shown about 80 of the 3,000 away supporters making abusive chants on the concourse area beneath the stand.
Now Stoke officials have sent the videos to police after being alerted to the footage by The Sentinel.
It comes as they revealed United fans had ripped up about 100 seats in the away section during last month's away win.
Stadium safety manager John Alcock said: "We were aware of the behaviour of a certain section of Manchester United fans during the match, but were not aware it had been posted on the internet.
"We tend to get quite a few supporters from different teams coming to the Britannia Stadium and damaging the facilities in the away end.
"The internet footage has been put on a CD and handed to police."
One three-and-a-half-minute video, entitled United At Stoke Half-time Sing Song And Riots, is described by one user on YouTube as "one of the best half times EVER".
The footage comes eight months after another YouTube video showed Stoke City fans involved in an incident with Leicester rivals in the South Stand during the final day of last season.
Superintendent Andy Franks, who was match commander for the Boxing Day fixture, said: "We will conduct a thorough investigation into the footage to try to identify those responsible for this disorder.
"It was limited to the section of the South Stand concourse area where Manchester United fans were housed.
"We will continue to work closely with the club for the rest of the season in ensuring that the Britannia Stadium remains a safe place for football supporters."
Bryan Shaw, chairman of Stoke City Supporters' Club, said he was not surprised to hear of the trouble.
He said: "I saw a couple of skirmishes on the way to the ground but they were dealt with by police.
"It would be nice if United coughed up and paid for the damage, but I doubt they will.
"If Stoke did this kind of thing at Old Trafford and ripped up 100 seats we would be highlighted as being the biggest thugs in the country, but just like their football team, United fans get away with everything."
No-one at Manchester United or the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association was available for comment.
45 Comments
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by matthew, Newcastle Under Lyme
Monday, January 12 2009, 12:14PM
“m whiting...... get a life. you sad sad person. ''90% of you only go for the fights you can cause and wreck stadiums''....Who do you think you are saying something like that? I think its more like less than 1% to be honest mate because there are up to 26000 stoke supporters attending the average home game. Thats twenty six thousand people!Most of these people simply have a passion for football. and you think you have the right to slag us off because you are so bitter about your empty life.”
by tess, anon
Sunday, January 11 2009, 3:45PM
“firstly kassie in stoke.... read the article! the headline gives it away....."Police inquiry as United fans run riot at Stoke City" NOT THE "so-called" STOKE FANS!!!
Secondly Jim in stoke...... so far this season the fans have been on best behaviour, i know of two incidents that have been caused and both time it was the visitors! i know this because i work in a public house and we get this info as its happening, so we can protect ourselves.
last but not least m whiting..... i'd like to you see you run a pitch for 90 minutes and still feel alive enough to "snog" someone IF you were able to score!
Stoke have put in a mixture of great and poor performances... next season can only get better!”
by geoff, meir
Saturday, January 10 2009, 1:10PM
“m whiting stoke: before you try to wind up football fans make sure you dont leave yourself open to ridicule by making basic spelling mistakes! "whatching" and it should read "too" well paid. muppet!!!!”
by m whiting, stoke
Saturday, January 10 2009, 10:01AM
“I think you should all grow up a bit. God all football is about these days is a buncth of jessies kicking a ball around the pitch snogging each other when a goal is scored and getting to well paid for it. As to whatching a game were can you go and whatch one without hearing swearing or getting involved in a fight. lets face it 90% of you only go for the fights you can cause and wreck stadiums.”
by dean gilson, newcastle upon tyne
Friday, January 09 2009, 7:00PM
“all i can say as a squaddie from stoke living in newcastle. we support we support we support our local team. city till i die, glory hunting hypocrits”
by kassie, stoke
Friday, January 09 2009, 2:03PM
“Come on Stan, surely a 10 year old boy should be able to wear what he likes without getting abuse from grown men. This just shows yet again what sort of levels these so called Stoke supporters will sink to - disgusting.”
by Stan, Neck End
Friday, January 09 2009, 1:17PM
“Steve from Tunstall - clearly you have failed as a parent, being from Tunstall and yet fuelling your sons support for the most hated club in the world. Your actions seems very irresponsible, as although I would never condone abusing a 10 yr old boy, I cant account for others that would. The Stoke familiy stand, albeit for families is still for Stoke fans only, no matter how old. This is not rugby and football stadia are partitioned to avoid exactly what you have experienced. The Stoke end is for Stoke fans, so get your son a ticket for the Man u end or dont go. And if you do go, for godness sake dont let him wear a man u shirt in the Stoke end. I know times are a changing but not this much. It also annoys me that you and many others have brought tickets in the Stoke end to cheer the oposition when genuine Stoke supporters cant go.”
by geoff, meir
Thursday, January 08 2009, 4:47PM
“jim/kassie utd and vale,couldnt be more opposite teams could they.? one the prem champs the other league 2 relegation fodder. by the way who trashed vale park or is that how it as always been?”
by Jim, stoke
Thursday, January 08 2009, 3:51PM
“Nice one Kassie. I'm a Utd fan first Will and a Vale fan second, but Utd are the team for me.”
by kassie, stoke
Thursday, January 08 2009, 3:48PM
“Been a Utd fan all my life Will, but having been born in Burslem I have a soft spot for the Vale.”