Newcastle violence completes black weekend

LONDON (AFP) –

Sunderland‘s Italian manager Paolo Di Canio (C) celebrates with his players after scoring the third goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle and Sunderland at St James’ Park in Newcastle, on April 14, 2013. Sunderland won the match 3-0.

Newcastle fans fought running battles with mounted police as English football, already scarred by Saturday’s Wembley disorder, was gripped by violence again on Sunday.

Twenty seven fans were arrested and at least three police officers were injured following Newcastle’s 3-0 home defeat to bitter local rivals Sunderland.

Police said they were pelted with missiles as they clashed with Newcastle fans attempting to confront Sunderland supporters at the city’s railway station.

The violence came 24 hours after 14 men were arrested when Millwall fans fought amongst themselves in the dying moments of their team’s 2-0 defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.

London’s Metropolitan Police said 12 of those held were Millwall supporters and two Wigan fans.

After Sunday’s Premier League game at Newcastle’s St James Park, police also said that smoke canisters had been set off.

But they stressed that it was only a minority of hardcore fans who were involved in the fighting after a game played in front of 50,000 fans at St James.

“The most serious incident involved a group of Newcastle fans in Central Station attempting to confront Sunderland supporters, but they were intercepted by officers from British Transport Police,” said a Northumbria Police spokesman.

“During this incident missiles were thrown at the officers, which resulted in three injuries to officers – one of them requiring assessment at hospital.”

Later Sunday, video footage emerged which showed masked fans picking up empty glass bottles from a bin and throwing them towards police.

Fans took to social media to condemn the violence.

“These lads are a disgrace to Newcastle,” said one supporter on Twitter.