UEFA final left us stretched, Manchester police admit

One fan was stabbed and 42 were arrested in Manchester after at least 100,000 Rangers supporters descended on the city to watch their side's 2-0 defeat against Zenit St Petersburg.

Ambulance crews came under attack, with two paramedics reportedly injured, and 15 officers were hurt in clashes between riot police and fans.

UEFA, the police, council officials and Rangers all blamed the fighting on a minority of supporters.

Manchester City Council was quick to point out that the "vast majority of fans had spent a peaceful evening in our city centre in a spirit of friendship and respect."

But a full inquiry got under way on Thursday at the council's behest into the violence which broke around 7.30pm.

The council had provided three "fan zones" with giant screens for the tens of thousands of supporters who had travelled down without tickets.

The atmosphere had been friendly throughout the day as excitement and alcohol levels rose.

But, when a "technical hitch" hit the screen in Piccadilly Gardens about 15 minutes before kick-off, many fans turned nasty.

The trouble continued for around five hours. The broken big screen was pelted with bottles, as were riot police as they moved in.

Sixteen men were under arrest on Thursday morning 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.

Five men arrested for wounding with intent on suspicion of stabbing a rival Russian fan have been released and the attacker has apparently escaped.

Assistant Chief Constable Justine Curran, who was in charge of match policing, said that her officers' response had been "appropriate."

She said: "It was challenging and we were stretched," adding: "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."

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said: "We are deeply disappointed that a small minority soured what was a great carnival atmosphere and this is a view shared by our fans who travelled in unprecedented numbers to Manchester."

But Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser insisted that sending in riot police had been an "overreaction" which "possibly inflamed the situation."

He said that there were "serious questions to be asked about the policing," calling for an inquiry into the police's preparations for the influx of fans.

The disturbances are unlikely to hurt Manchester's chances of staging future events, however, as UEFA believes that the council and police did a "fantastic job."

Communications director William Gaillard said: "I can't believe that any other city would have done anything better."