Alex Salmond is leading cross-party calls for a full inquiry into Wednesday�s clashes between Rangers fans and Manchester police officers
David Leask, Robbie Dinwoodie and Michael Settle
Alex Salmond is leading cross-party calls for a full inquiry into Wednesday's clashes between Rangers fans and Manchester police officers.
The First Minister yesterday made the demand as Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that the trouble could cost England the right to host the 2018 World Cup.
Some 200 fans - barely more than one for every 1000 who travelled to the city for their side's Uefa Cup final with Zenit St Petersburg - attacked police officers late on Wednesday evening after big screens set up for ticketless supporters broke down. Fifteen police officers were injured, a Russian fan stabbed and 42 supporters arrested.
However, last night Rangers officials said individuals with no known history of following the club were among those believed to be involved in the trouble.
Chief executive Martin Bain said: "We have been informed those scenes were caused by supporters who don't normally attach themselves to our support.
"Therefore, we're extremely disappointed and we'll do everything we possibly can to help Manchester Police find out who those perpetrators are."
Rangers security chief Kenny Scott said the club would take "appropriate action" against those responsible."
Manchester council has vowed to find out why the screens failed but Mr Salmond, backed by Labour, Tories and Liberal Democrats, said the scope of the inquiry should be wider.
He told the Scottish Parliament: "I think there are a number of other aspects to inquire into and certainly we'll give full co-operation, in all the matters under our responsibility, to such an inquiry." However, Mr Salmond added: "There was no excuse for the behaviour of an unacceptable minority."
Later, a senior aide said: "There was obviously a failure in allowing glass bottles into the fan zone areas."
Gordon Brown branded the small number of troublemakers "a disgrace". He said: "I want to praise the police for the action they took. It's something we will have to investigate.
"I want to do everything to avoid us being put in a position where we might be at risk of an application for the 2018 World Cup not being acceptable because of this."
He said the UK Government would "want to look at the powers police have to be able to control the use of alcohol in public places" and suggested that the messages sent to ticketless fans not to go to cities where matches were held should be "far stronger in future".
Rangers fans in Manchester had condemned what they regarded as a heavy-handed response from the police, although many toned down their views once video images appeared of clashes between supporters and police.
Estimates for the number of Scots in Manchester on Wednesday varied but The Herald understands the most robust figure is around 150,000.
Police later confirmed that 11 men were charged with various offences - mostly involving public order, but also assault, being drunk in a sportsground and throwing a missile.
Another 11 were bailed pending further inquiries and 12 were given cautions. Seven men, including one Zenit fan, were released without charge.
The clashes left 15 police officers nursing a catalogue of minor injuries. CCTV released by police showed seven officers attempting to keep the 200 fans at arm's length as cans, bottles and rubbish were thrown at them. Many of the fans were not wearing Rangers colours.
