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.

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.