TWO Rangers fans taunted police and encouraged fellow supporters to defy the law during violence that marred last summer's UEFA Cup Final in Manchester, a court has been told.

Simon Toland, 19, from Belfast, and James Clark, 35, from Glasgow, were both at the forefront of a crowd of Rangers fans who had been hurling bottles and missiles at police trying to calm the situation, it is alleged.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court heard that specialist officers and police dog handlers had been trying to break up the crowd throng in Chorlton Street late on May 14 after Rangers had been beaten by Russian side Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Robert Elias, prosecuting, said the pair had been gesturing with their arms in a way that was both threatening to police, and meant to encourage other fans.

He said the crowd, many of whom had been drinking throughout the day in the city centre during the build up to the match, had been hostile and antagonistic.

Fans were repeatedly warned via police tannoy systems on police vans to disperse and leave the area, but most stood firm and refused to do so.

Toland, who made the trip from Belfast with his brother, was seen waving clenched fists, and was bitten by a police dog, after ignoring requests to go quietly.

Clark shouted 'F*** you' at officers, and then struggled violently when told he was being arrested, and later in interview gave a false name. He subsequently apologised for giving the false name and said he had been drunk.

Mr Elias told the court the incident had happened as the city was 'awash' with Glasgow Rangers supporters.

He said: "Many more had come down than could possibly be accommodated - many just to be in the same city where the final was being staged."

Violence

The violence had been sparked- off in part, he said, by the failure of a giant TV screen in Piccadilly Gardens, where thousands of fans had congregated to watch the game.

Toland and Clark were arrested on Chorlton Street during the early hours of the morning following Rangers' defeat, and crowds of Scots supporters ran amok.

They are both charged with violent disorder and both deny the charge.

Police dog handler Andrew Hayfield, who was injured when he was hit by a flying bottle hurled from the crowd on Chorlton Street, described how officers were confronted by scores of supporters outside Chorlton Street bus station.

He said missiles were being thrown by many fans, some of whom had gone inside a multi-storey car park to get a better vantage point. He said he saw Toland and Clark at the forefront of the crowd.

"They were gesturing to officers, and beckoning the crowd behind them. As we approached them, Toland clenched his fists, so I let my dog bite him."

He told the jury: "It was very noisy, with the crowd yelling, shouting, and jeering, bottles shattering as they hit the ground, and the police tannoy announcements asking people to disperse."

When it was suggested that he had misinterpreted Toland's actions, and that Toland had in fact been holding his arms up to indicate he didn't want trouble,

PC Hayfield replied: "I disagree. I know what I saw."

Proceeding