News in 2006

20th March 2006

Football fans charged over racist chanting

A total of 39 people have been charged in connection with racist chanting and violent disorder following the FA Cup clash between Stoke City and Birmingham City last month, police said yesterday.

The first suspects were detained on Thursday as part of a planned operation by Staffordshire Police.

They were all given police bail and ordered to appear before magistrates in Stoke-on-Trent in April and May.

Photographs

Thirty-eight men and one woman were arrested after the force published photographs of people it wanted to speak to in connection with events inside and outside Stoke's Britannia Stadium on February 19.

Images were captured during and after the fifth round match and analysed by the Football Intelligence Unit.

The suspects range in age from 14 to 56 and are charged with various crimes including affray, violent disorder, racist chanting, assault and offences under public order legislation.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced on Friday that it would be investigating the way Staffordshire Police had handled the disorder after it received 11 formal complaints from members of the public.

The "managed investigation" would investigate the conduct of officers and the tactics used to quell the disorder.

Staffordshire Police said a handful of further arrests could be expected over coming weeks as the investigation continued.