EMERGENCY services faced a busy night in Manchester as disappointed football fans reacted to England's defeat against France in Euro 2004.

Police said there were no serious incidents of public disorder, but the ambulance service reported a 51 per cent increase in the number of calls usually received on a Sunday night.

Exchange Square in Manchester city centre was crammed with more then 4,000 football supporters jostling to get the best view of the large screen showing the game.

Fans came from all over Greater Manchester and many families turned up a couple of hours before the kick-off just to get a good spot.

By 7.45pm the square was a sea of red and white flags and the deafening roar of the crowd when England scored in the first half could be heard around the city centre.

But the mood soon turned when France scored in the second half and then, minutes later, they put another one in the back of the net.

Tears flowed at the final whistle as many disappointed fans headed for the pubs to drown their sorrows and police reported sporadic fighting around the city centre.

Increase staffing

But despite the trouble, many fans said they would still come back to watch another game there.

Karl Marsh, 40, from Prestwich, said of the atmosphere: "It has been an excellent day here."

Greater Manchester Ambulance Service which had increased staffing by 10 per cent in expectation of an increase in calls, said they dealt with 833 between 7.30pm and 2.30am, compared with 550 last Sunday.

Of those, 378 came after the final whistle.

A spokesman said: "We had expected a busy night and we were proved right."

Greater Manchester Police said they had received calls from across the area, but fortunately there were no serious incidents reported.

It was a different story around the country.

Police in Wakefield were today continuing to question 14 people arrested following post-match violence in the city.



A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Several hundred people were present and a number of these were being disorderly.

"Bottles and missiles were thrown at door staff and police.

There were 11 arrests in Boston, Lincolnshire, involving violent disorder, arson, theft and drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Police cars were attacked and shops damaged.

Two men were arrested in Colchester, Essex, when violence broke out after the game.

There were 12 arrests in Croydon. Ten of those are in custody. Two were taken to hospital with head injuries.

Meanwhile, an English fan has been deported from Portugal and handed a suspended sentence after he attacked a French supporter.

Alan John Walker, 29, of Leek, Staffordshire, appeared before a court in Lisbon yesterday following the assault on a rival fan on Saturday.

Officers said the Stoke City supporter was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, fined 2,000 euros and banned from Portugal for a year.

Walker had previously been made the subject of a football banning order in Britain, but police said that had expired before Euro 2004.

"We will now be seeking a new banning order once full details of the case are provided to us," said a Staffordshire Police spokesman.

Police said that Walker was arrested after attacking a French man in Lisbon city centre and later charged with a count of assault.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that one man was arrested on Saturday, later appeared at court and was removed from the country."

Walker was given a three-year banning order in November 2000 after invading the pitch at Wigan's JJB Stadium during a Stoke City match.

rebecca.camber@men-news.co.uk

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