A total of seven men were arrested before, during and after Middlesbrough’s game with West Ham at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Four Middlesbrough fans and three West Ham fans were arrested in and around the ground and town centre.
The Middlesbrough Gazzette says two West Ham supporters were arrested before kick-off. Before they even got past the turnstiles at the Riverside, the two Hammers fans – aged 22 and 33 – were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug.
Both issued with an adult caution. Inside the stadium – a man was assaulted leading to the arrest of two men, Middlesbrough fans aged 23 and 34, on suspicion of assault.
Both were released on bail pending further inquiries. Another Boro fan, aged 25, was arrested around the same time on suspicion of disorderly conduct.
He was charged and will appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in February. After the game and outside the stadium, a 28-year-old man – a Boro fan – was arrested on suspicion of affray. He was released with no further police action.
A 57-year-old West Ham fan was arrested in a town centre pub later in the evening on suspicion of breaching a banning order. He was charged and will appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court early in February.
Meanwhile many fans actually attend the game, peacefully, perfectly behaved, crime free and with no recorded incident of any kind.