Disorder broke out at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry, Northern Ireland, during a Europa League match between Derry City and CSKA Sofia on Thursday. The trouble occurred before the match got underway in Bishop Street, with a police officer being injured and taken to hospital.
As the second half of the fixture continued, further trouble occurred, prompting some fans to flee onto the pitch. The referee stopped the game for 14 minutes, and police entered the stadium 'at the request of Derry City Football Club and in the interests of public safety'. Police helped 'restore calm, meaning that the match could continue to its conclusion', according to PSNI Ch Insp Graeme Craig.
CSKA fans were seen trying to get into the home section in the shared Southend Park stand, throwing drinks and hurling abuse at the opposing supporters. SDLP councillor Rory Farrell, who was at the match with his 10-year-old daughter, described the scene as 'sinister'. Derry City fan Malcolm McCausland witnessed the incident and said security at Brandywell would need to be reviewed.
Derry City Football Club has 'unequivocally condemned the violence witnessed at tonight's match' and is working with UEFA, the PSNI, CSKA Sofia, and security partners to establish the full facts surrounding the incidents.
The MP for the area, Colum Eastwood, described the incident as 'disgraceful' and said he would 'demand answers' from the police about how it was handled.