A flare was thrown back and forth between the two sets of fans A fan has described the violence that erupted after a Carling Cup match between Birmingham City and local rivals Aston Villa as “like a warzone”.
Five people were arrested and 27 hurt after City fans invaded the pitch following their side’s 2-1 victory.
Aston Villa fans responded by throwing a flare and ripping up plastic seats at City’s St Andrews ground.
Villa fan Rob, from Cheltenham, told BBC Five Live his 11-year-old son was repeatedly spat at during the violence.
He said: “There was a lot of trouble before the game.
“The scenes were really disgraceful.
“My 11-year-old son was spat at repeatedly and there was CS gas used against the police – we were told that by a lady officer on the way out of the ground.
“It’s a bit of a warzone really.”
McLeish “worried” after fan invasion
A pub outside the ground and parked cars were also vandalised following the quarter-final game.
The trouble came hours before the vote to decide if England will host the 2018 World Cup.
Birmingham City and the FA have said they are investigating the disorder.
The club described the violence as “disappointing” and said officials would be meeting later to investigate the matter further.
Manager Alex McLeish said it threatened to bring English football “back to the dark ages” but said he did not think it would affect England’s bid to host the World Cup.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said casualties suffered head and leg injuries.
“Twenty four of those were treated in the ground,” a spokesman said.
“Those treated suffered a variety of injuries to their head, leg and arms.
“Of these, two men were taken to hospital; one, a 43-year-old man, was initially unconscious after suffering a head injury. The other man had a leg injury.
“Three other men were treated by ambulance staff before being taken to hospital.”
Supt Steve Graham, from West Midlands Police, told BBC News they got the fans off the pitch within about 10 minutes of the game ending but said some “innocent parties” would have been injured outside the ground.
“Sadly, there was then sporadic disorder (outside the ground),” he said.
“It was mindless, it was inexcusable.
“Some innocent parties would have been injured by those mindless thugs outside.”
The FA said it “wholly condemned” the actions of those involved.
The last time Birmingham City and Aston Villa were allowed to play each other in an evening game was seven years ago.
Following clashes between supporters during the 2002-03 season, West Midlands Police insisted all future derbies be played on a Sunday lunchtime.
The Carling Cup draw led to that rule being waived for this game.
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