Police had to wade in to break-up brawls and four people were arrested. But town hall bosses say there are no plans to ban alcohol for the screening of the next England game on Friday.
Kate Phipps from Manchester, who attended the screening with her nine-year-old son, said: “It was a complete disaster. Our experience was ruined by the actions of the people around us. Not wanting my son to witness the anti-social behaviour we left after 20 minutes. He was begging us to leave. He has made it very clear to me that he doesn't want to watch any other matches there. The council really need to reconsider. There shouldn't be any alcohol served in the area.
Council bosses said the atmosphere had been amazing and blamed 'insignificant handfuls of fools' for the disorder.
Mike Amesbury, the town hall's executive member for culture and leisure, said: “The overwhelming majority of the crowd did the city proud and demonstrated clearly what it means to be true football fans.
A tiny and insignificant handful of fools let themselves down near the end.
Manchester council chiefs and police were always due to meet today to review arrangements for Friday's screening of the crunch England v Algeria game. But it is understood senior officers have concerns that security should be adequate for a match that could effectively end England's World Cup hopes.
The Castlefield 'fan zone' is due to screen every England game on a ticket-only basis.
Trouble flared on Saturday at the end of the game.
Hundreds of people looked on in horror as blows were exchanged between a small group of fans. Concerns were also raised about the time it took for some people to get into the complex, and about the length of queues for the bars. A council spokesman said there were no plans to reconsider the decision to have bars in the fan zone.
He added: “Apart from one isolated incident towards the end of the match, which was dealt with quickly and effectively by police and security staff, the event was trouble-free with fans enjoying the sunshine and good-natured family atmosphere, if not the result.
There was a problem before the match started with a lot people trying to all get in at once on the Liverpool Road side. We will be looking at that.
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Ah Manchesters finest once again prove that we can't do anything in this city without the drunken idiots ruining it. Well done and I hope you all feel proud. I was there yesterday and the reason only 4 were arrested was because they run out of cops. There could easily have been 20-30 nicked yesterday. The only thing to surprise was how ling it took for the fighting to start as it had been bubbling for hours.
When will the council learn we can't be trusted to hold events like this and mix it with alcohol. If the council wanted it to be a family fun day why sell alcohol inside? Money maybe?
I was caught in the middle of the trouble yesterday afternoon and the statement from the police stating that they dealt with the trouble quickly and effectively is completley innacurate. The incident had been going on for sometime while the police and security staff looked on. Had they reacted quicker instead of standing and watching it unfold fewer people would have had an otherwise good day ruined!
Mike Amesbury, the council's executive member for culture, said 'a tiny and insignificant handful of fools' had 'let themselves down'.
Even if it was one person causing affray in a crowd of 10 thousand people, I would like to think that the organisers think it significant.
Lets hope they weren't watching the game via ITV HD !
Good natured family atmosphere?? I was there with my friends and felt uneasy during the second half, as I constantly had one eye on the screen, and the other at the incessant shower of beer bottles and pints that were flying accross the sky in all directions.
I saw several families with children leaving - I second the comments of Silver Lining - Football and Alcohol just don't mix when you are English - Thank you very much to the chavs who decided to ruin the event - you must be very proud of yourselves???
4 or so idiots out of 10 000 is not bad....
You are always going to get some losers worming their way into a free event like this who can't handle their ale.
At least 9 960+ people enjoyed themselves and are mature - Lets be positive MEN !
A Manchester council spokesman added: "Apart from one isolated incident towards the end of the match................................the event was trouble-free with fans enjoying the sunshine and good-natured family atmosphere''
So it wasn't a good-natured event with a family atmosphere then was it? It's like saying that nobody was killed in a car crash apart from two people so it was actually a pleasant car journey apart from that.
I am going to the match at Castlefield on Friday so hope it will be better s people wouldn't have been out on the lash all day. I was woken at 3am (stayed in town last night) by two England topped drunk as skunk Vicky Pollard's who were shouting and swaering whilst ripping each others eyes out. Nice to be woken at 3am by 'get your hands of my 'expletive' hair you 'expletive' 'expletive'.
Apparently many moe could have been arrested.
''Mike Amesbury, the council's executive member for culture, said 'a tiny and insignificant handful of fools''
Not insignificant if you are there though are they?
This isn't much of a surprise. The people of Greater Manchester routinely engage in uncontrolled alcohol consumption and the resultant anti-social behavior that follows. There is good reason they drink to excess, as the entire area is a miserable bolt-hole.
Thats why i watched it at home, i dont want to be stood with people that only watch england in the world cup.
i watch club football every week in the season, not just when boring england play
Well, thats decided where I'm not watching the next match.
What a shame.
thats what it was like in my front room due to itv hd poor poor show from itv dont get that when its on sky give the world cup to sky please so we can enjoy it
Morons drinking on empty heads = disorder. Best to keep the ale under lock and key in future. Most Mancunian football supporter can´t multi-task. i.e. Drink and watch football at the same time. Without running into bother.
Captain Clarence, only four idiots out of 10,000 so not bad eh? Only four arrested, not only four causing trouble.
We had the same comments about the Rangers riot. Only 23 arrested so not bad. There were 400 rioting though, but only 23 were arrested.
Events of recent weeks tell us that you need only one idiot to cause mayhem amongst many.
Besides, even the minor things like people urinating in plastic pint pots and throwing them well why should anybody be drenched in urine because to somebody else 'it's a laugh'?
From the sounds of it the 9,960 others didn't all enjoy it as other posters have stated. My mate had to take his family out of the arena due to the pillocks causing trouble and he missed most of the match.
I lived in Australia and America and you can even watch two rival teams in a Cup Final at outdoor screens side by side with other fans, everybody drinking crazy amounts but they know how to behave. If decent people and families are there they also watch their P's & Q's. Not here though - chavs rule.
There may have been only four out of 10,000 arrested whilst the match was been shown at Castlefield but let's not forget the **** that spilled on to the streets after the final whistle. The main streets of Manchester were awash with TAU vans and there was at least 2 helicopters circling the city. As a business owner in the city centre, I saw the debris of this match, England's opening game - so much hype, so much hope - but it's the same old, same old..... hype, hope, and disappointment turning into drunken violence. Why oh why did our wonderful city council even consider selling alcohol at this event?
I was there at the main screen, just in front of where it kicked off. It did seem that the police handled it fairly quickly. Even though I can deal with the laddish atmosphere and amount of (plastic) beer bottles flying through the air, it was most definitely not a "family" atmosphere. However, I would find it naive to think it would be (even though they advertised it as such).
I agree that the only way to make this work is to ban alcohol completely. The vast majority of people can of course behave normally even after a few beers, but there will always be some who won't. Having a handful of those people in an enclosed area with 10.000 people is a recipe for disaster. Even more so when England is playing rubbish (like yesterday).
I will go to the other games still, but will be cautious when England inevitably gets kicked out on penalties in the knock out stages. The disappointment and frustration of these childish chavs will be too much for them to handle......
England matches always bring out the worst in people. With any luck we won't make the last 16, then we won't have to read any more about these drunken idiots. Whoever called Castlefield a 'fan zone' should be sued under trade descriptions act. Stay at home, watch King Carlos win the World Cup and be safe.
Why is this news. It was only 4 people. Saying that from what I here from people who went they will not be going again
Typical moronic few try to spoil it for everyone else. They should stick to water if they can't handle alcohol which evidently they can't.
THE SOONER WE GET KNOCKED OUT THE BETTER NO MORE DRINKING IN THE STREETS FIGHTING AND SHOUTING COME ON Algeria KNOCK ENGLAND OUT AND DO US A FAVOUR
Park? Pwah, there wasn't even any swings???
Huge mistake and lack of thought on the part of the council in my view.
Yes, they got it right not showing England on the other public screens. And they did a good job creating a family event that started out perfectly. But who on Earth decided to allow alcohol to be sold in the ground?? That person needs to look for a new job!
Such a lovely day. Sun shining, hot weather, everyone in good spirits and families together. Perfect. Sadly the old equation came in to play, Manchester + football + alcohol = trouble.
When will the council learn, how many times has this sort of thing happened? They, in my view, by allowing alcohol selling in the ground, turned this from a family event to one where I'd never ever risk taking a child to ever again.
The police and security did a good job fixing the problem the council fueled, it's just a shame the council allowed it to he ruined in the first place.
If you want beer and football go to a pub or have it at home. This should have been a family day, without alcohol. What a total lack of sense...
Is this even remotely a surprise??
Football is not a sport for "families" in the UK. It is dominated my young, stupid men who think that behaving like an obnoxious idiot is the thing to do. I wouldn't take any kids of mine NEAR football.
I went to watch it in a local pub and not only was the atmosphere good natured and friendly, the drink was cheaper and I didn't have to walk home covered in gob and wee.
Abandon these events. They don't work.
I suggest people email councillors Mike Amesbury / Pat Karney suggesting alcohol is banned from future England screenings.. it would have been a good event if everyone hadn't been so drunk!
Sterling Dingleberry, Useless Washington, DC - USA (13/06/2010 at 17:34)
Mindless violence does not just occur in Manchester. How many shootings in South East Washington this past week bud??
i think 4 arrest out of 17000 or so is not bad you will allways get someone who spoils it.just the same everywhere now its just the society we live in