Police scour CCTV for hooligans

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More arrests are expected following violence before and after Cardiff City's game at Sheffield United at the weekend.

South Yorkshire Police are studying video evidence of clashes between rival supporters to identify offenders - so far five men from Cardiff and one from Sheffield have been charged.

But some Cardiff fans believe the Police were heavy-handed - and say they have their own video footage to support their claims.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer has defended the way officers reacted to the clashes.

Chief Inspector Jim Haylett of South Yorkshire Police told BBC Wales there would have been "carnage" if officers in his force had not intervened when trouble broke out on Saturday following a league match at United's Bramall Lane ground.

More arrests are expected following the clashes during which five Cardiff fans and one Sheffield supporter were arrested.

But Cardiff City Supporters' Club spokesman Vince Alm has accused the police of failing to protect City fans from attack.

He also said officers targeted them and ignored the Sheffield fans, who he claimed started the trouble.

We look for build ups of people who are known to be involved in football violence Chief Inspector Jim Haylett

According to Mr Haylett, a feature of the trouble was "the sheer amount of people that seemed intent on confrontation with both the police and the local hooligan group".

He said: "We look for build-ups of people who are known to be involved in football violence.

"You can see the congregations starting, conversations on mobile telephones, large groups of supporters moving en masse from one location to another.

"As soon as there is an attempt to stop that they get aggressive."

He said the tactic aimed to prevent the two sides getting together in the first place.

But Mr Alm claimed most fans stayed outside the city in coaches before the game and some missed the kick-off because police refused to escort them to the game.

He said: "Trouble flared after the game, and that was because we were all outside in the holding area and they hadn't secured the boundary.

I think we're spoilt down in south Wales - our police are absolutely fantastic down here Vince Alm

"About 100 of the local hooligans came down the side street and started wading into anybody, including women and children.

"Cardiff City fans - who are not slow in coming forward when there is trouble, I'm not going to defend them - started retaliating.

"They didn't start the fight."

He added: "The police came charging down the road, didn't touch any Sheffield United fans whatsoever, and started attacking 13-year-old boys, women and men, round the head."

He welcomed the police's review of video footage, adding that supporters had taken their own.

He suggested South Yorkshire police could take lessons from their counterparts in south Wales.

"I think we're spoilt down in south Wales - our police are absolutely fantastic down here.

"We have very little trouble and they know exactly how to police a game.

"Perhaps Jim Haylett should spend a few weeks down here."