- Around 25 Manchester United supporters have been arrested in Belgium
- An estimated 15 Club Bruges fans were arrested by local police
- Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick for United before violence occurred
Dozens
of football fans were arrested on Wednesday night as things threatened
to turn nasty following Manchester United's 4-0 Champions League
play-off victory over Club Bruges.
Sportsmail
understands a group of supporters from Bruges's hooligan element
attacked the Charlie Rockets pub in the centre of the city where a
number of United fans who had travelled without tickets had gathered to
watch the game on TV.
Belgian police were quickly on the scene and managed to keep the two groups apart before things got out of hand.
About 25 Manchester United fans were
arrested after their side's 4-0 win over Club Bruges - the supporters
pictured above were not necessarily involved in the incident
The incident occurred when supporters from Bruges' hooligan element attacked the Charlie Rockets pub
United fans gathered in the city
centre before the Champions League play-off match in Belgium - the
supporters pictured above were not necessarily involved in the incident
They cleared the pub and arrested around 15 Brugge and 25 United supporters.
Those held were taken to a nearby police station for questioning.
Of
the United fans arrested at the popular pub, which is a known haunt for
bikers, 23 were eventually released without charged while two were
retained in custody.
The
incident, thought to be an arranged meet between two known groups of
trouble causers, was isolated on a mostly trouble-free night.
At
the stadium earlier in the evening 25 United supporters were arrested.
Some of those were held for not being in possession of a ticket, which
is a criminal offence in Belgium, while 17 were arrested on suspicion of
breaching the peace.
United fans soak up the rays as they
stand in the upper tier of the Jan Breydel Stadium - the supporters
pictured above were not necessarily involved in the incident
Away from the violence, Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney netted a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory
Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera also managed to get his name on the scoresheet
One was arrested after invading the pitch.
A
police source said: 'Over two nights there was a really good
atmosphere. It is a shame an isolated incident has overshadowed this.'
United
won the tie 7-1 on aggregate thanks to a hat-trick from Wayne Rooney
and a goal from Ander Herrera to progress to the group stage.
Plain-clothed spotters from Greater Manchester Police had travelled to Belgium for the clash.
Tags
SOCCER