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Police issue statement as fans blame officers for ‘disorder’ after Sheffield United v Birmingham

South Yorkshire Police have took to issue a statement as fans blame officers for a ‘disorder’ after the Sheffield United v Birmingham game.

Around 6:00pm, there were reports of “fans clashing” with a number of police officers lining the junction of Boston Street and London Road.

A little later, there were claims that a Sheffield United fan had been stabbed in the disorder. Local media ‘The Star’ put these reports to South Yorkshire Police, who denied they had received any news of a stabbing and said officers were there “for the football”.

At 8.13pm, South Yorkshire Police issued a statement confirming they had launched an investigation into “disorder” following the game at Bramall Lane.

The statement said: “An investigation has been launched after disorder between Sheffield United and Birmingham fans in Sheffield city centre today (Saturday 1 October).

“Officers were called after the match to reports of disorder on London Road. No serious injuries have been reported and we are now working to identify those involved.”

A number of those who witnessed the situation said there had been trouble all over London Road, police officers, dogs, horses, vans, blue lights and sirens everywhere. Traffic chaos, buses diverted. People were “throwing pint glasses” whilst around kids in pubs around the city centre.

One social media user, Nick Glynn, said in a video tweet: “@syptweet South Yorkshire Police at @SheffieldUnited v @BCFC. What a disgrace. The ONLY disorder today was CAUSED by the police. Disgusting. They have obviously learned NOTHING from Hillsborough. Creating bottlenecks and danger.”

He says fans were being attacked, thrown on the floor, he had his hoodie ripped off by police, his daughter had an injured knee, she banged her head on the ground after being pushed over by police.

Nick adds that Sheffield United fans came up to him and described the scenes a disgrace, then goes to add that police created a bottleneck and battered individuals within it.

Jon Pearce wrote: “So… @syptweet were an absolute disgrace today. Hemming @bcfc fans in for 40mins with zero communication. Adults, pensioners, kids. They had more chance of causing issues than any fans. They learn nothing at all. What right do you have to treat my son & I like animals?”

Eddie Crouch said: “South Yorkshire police have a pretty awful history around football matches but first time ever I have been kettled for a significant time after todays game v Sheff Utd Shocking and lacking any communication and could have caused more problems”

The game itself saw Troy Deeney score an equaliser for Birmingham as Championship leaders Sheffield United were frustrated in a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane.

Oliver McBurnie had put the Blades in front in their pursuit of a fifth successive victory but Deeney’s close-range effort extended the Blues’ unbeaten run to four games.

The draw left Sheffield United a point clear of Norwich at the top of the table. Birmingham sit 15th, five points below the playoffs and three above the drop zone.

Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom: “The players deserve praise because we’ve had only one training session. There was fatigue and a lack of preparation, but I thought that the players were fantastic and they took everything on board. We were confident with how the game would go. We know where we went wrong and the lads are upset but I cannot criticise them.

“When you’re on a 10-game unbeaten run you can’t ask for anymore. Evidence suggests that we have been performing well for about 10 months. It is a reflection of where we are that people are disappointed. If you’ve watched Birmingham this season you would know they are starting to look well organised. They have a great spirit now. They looked to hurt us.”

Birmingham’s John Eustace: “I’m very proud. The group was excellent and we moved the ball around against a top team. To get a point with a performance like that is very pleasing.

“That’s the Deeney I played with at Watford. I’m so proud of him today because he has had chances in other games and not taken them. If we can keep him fit then he is exactly what we need.”

There was plenty more reaction as police issue a statement as fans blame officers for ‘disorder’ after Sheffield United v Birmingham…

@LancsRambler: One of the worst forces in the country, a utter disgrace of an organisation

@Melb1875: Hope you and your daughter are ok 💙

@80sOiClassics: Couldn’t agree more Nick. Two of us left the game wouldn’t let us turn left as usual and forced us up a hill where the coaches were parked. Got to the top of the hill still wouldn’t let us turn left. They wouldn’t believe that we weren’t on a coach.

@ru17maa: Thankyou for sharing this! The fact that you are police & support police & still can be honest about some of the unacceptable police behaviour. I hope @leicspolice & @LPEastLeics can take complaints seriously and stop making excuses for Bad Policing.

@nick570husbands: My son was there, he said there was no communication about the delay and he was held back out side the ground for 40 minutes

@Elljayfish: Same given out to United fans today too! They pushed us all onto London Road where we were sitting ducks for the fans intent on causing trouble! So sorry you’ve had this experience

@markgarratt100: Well said Nick – I was going to comment on Twitter but it comes better from a police expert like you. Kettling us all into a small space after the match was fundamentally flawed rather than letting folks just leave the ground and the area. Shocking @syptweet

@speakey_: Everyone boxed in right outside the ground with no explanation, police being violent and rude for no reason. Every blues fan walked out of there feeling like we’d won, no violence what so ever. Disgraceful from the police managing the game today.

@robbiek44: Absolute disgrace. I hope you’re okay.

@kpc1875: Shocking. But as you say, no learning. Hope you’re both OK.

@Myers2409: South Yorkshire police are a joke! Always have been!

@RobCanton1: Shocking to see this, Nick. Above all I hope you and your daughter are safe and OK. This is much worse than what my lad and I experienced in Sheffield a few years ago, though that was bad enough. Police bullying and generally hostile.

@AbladeRay: Yep you are spot on, why oh why did they do it did they want another disaster. Someone needs holding to account for this.

@mickbcfc1975: It’s because we’re football fans so as far as the police are concerned we’re fair game mate !! Disgusting behaviour by the @syptweet again, hope you and your daughter are okay Nick. Make a formal complaint

@redbrowny31: Going to Bramall Lane is like time travelling back to 1984.

@ScouseBrum1: From my experience, since 1985, @syptweet he have been the least capable of friendly policing a football match. Not surprised how they have been today.

@justinbcfc: Hope you and your daughter are ok when I come out ground after match with my son I noticed Straight away it was very cramped even had police vans taking up room on the road 😒

@craigrobbo6: Had a large amount of @Humberbeat who actually knew how to talk to people, like people, however, communication amongst each other was awful. Their operation was a shambles and all they achieved was penning us in to be released into a pack of Sheffield looking and finding trouble.

@historicalmatty: Police are the biggest hooligans at football.

@FavilleRobert: Absolute Joke my daughter was elbowed in the face by some big lurch looking fucker to which he replied so ….. @syptweeet your a disgrace badge number 4952 !!!!

@95Redss: I’ll never forget the hositle atmosphere at that cup game, where an old lady travelling with us was hit by a coin in the crowd. Home fans were a disgrace and the police were not much better. Worst I’ve experienced.

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