Manchester City Council 'wanted anyone but Rangers' to make Uefa Cup Final » Communities » 24dash.com

Manchester City Council has ordered an urgent inquiry after football fans went on the rampage, marring the Uefa Cup Final.

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.

The broken big screen was pelted with bottles, as were riot police as they moved in to try to quell the trouble.

Violence broke out at around 7.30pm and the trouble continued for around five hours.

One fan was stabbed and police made 42 arrests in Manchester city centre.

Fifteen 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.

Ambulance crews also came under attack in the violence and two paramedics were reportedly also injured.

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".

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese, said: "We are having a full inquiry into the failure of the screen in Piccadilly."

"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."

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.