VIOLENT clashes between police and Rangers fans cast a shadow over Manchester's world record breaking UEFA cup party.

An estimated 200,000 Scottish supporters had turned the streets into a sea of blue ahead of their team's 2-0 defeat to Russian side Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester stadium.

But trouble flared after a technical fault meant 20,000 fans gathered at Piccadilly Gardens to watch the match on a huge screen were left with no picture.

The screen at first showed a message saying the problem was being sorted out.

But about 15 minutes into the game, it shut down completely. Thousands of Rangers fans, who had climbed on trucks, portaloos and statues to catch a look of the game, suddenly began to leave, watched by a police helicopter circling above.

Soon, railings surrounding the fanzone had been torn down as angry supporters began squabbling and scuffling between themselves. By the time police arrived, tempers had reached fever pitch. A number of fans were hit with batons, and officers had to use riot shields to protect themselves from bottles and cans hurled at them in Oldham Street.

Reinforcements

The police called for reinforcements as around 200 fans rushed to the scene and began hurling abuse.

Around 60 officers with riot shields launched a dozen baton charges to force the group back towards the Gardens. Meanwhile police and fans had running clashes on Market Street as bottles were hurled at officers. Elsewhere there were reports of cars being overturned, while six people were arrested after a Zenit fan was stabbed inside the stadium.

There were further baton charges and clashes along Market Street after midnight.

An eye-witness said there were ugly scenes as fans continued to hurl missiles despite being warned to leave the area. They were eventually chased from Piccadilly station approach down towards Piccadilly Gardens as more police vans and Tactical Aid Unit officers arrived.

A police spokesman revealed that 1,500 officers were on duty for the event, but they had to draft in an extra 300 to deal with the disturbances.

Asst Chief Constable Justice Curran said she was `sickened' that a minority of fans had turned to mindless violence and said she was `saddened and disappointing' by the events in Piccadilly.

Assaulted

She said some officers were assaulted, but none was seriously injured.

Everyone was putting the blame on the TV screen failure in Piccadilly Gardens.

One angry Piccadilly fan said: "We've been sat here since 12 o'clock waiting on the game coming on. The coverage started at seven o'clock and then five minutes later the screen's off. It's an absolute shambles."

Police said a small number of supporters who had been largely well-behaved became frustrated and started to pelt the screen with beer bottles.

A `significant minority' of fans then began to confront officers and began to throw bottles.

The spokesman said: "GMP would like to stress that the vast majority of supporters have behaved impeccably and came to Manchester clearly intent on enjoying the carnival atmosphere.

"The behaviour of supporters in the other two fan zones and in other parts of the city centre was excellent.

"Up until the screen went down in Piccadilly Gardens, there had been a total of eight arrests across the city."

Investigation

The council has launched an investigation into why the screen failed. Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: "I think it is clear that if we had not had this trouble it [the violence] would not have happened."

When the giant screen went down, the council arranged for emergency buses to ship the fans to a reserve screen at the Velodrome, just a few hundred yards from the stadium.

But it was too late to stop the trouble.

By 9.30pm ambulances were no longer being sent into the city centre unless accompanied by a police escort that could take them directly to Accident and Emergency.

A spokeswoman said the decision was taken to protect `the safety of crews'.

The A&E department at Manchester Royal Infirmary was kept `very busy.'

An official said there was a constant stream of walking wounded and people worse for wear due to drink.