Rangers probe infiltrator claims

Bain says many of the fans have no connection with Rangers

Rangers believe the trouble in Manchester city centre which marred the Uefa Cup final involved people with no history of following the club.

Hundreds of fans turned violent when a big screen showing the match in the city's Piccadilly Gardens broke down.

"We've been informed that those scenes were caused by fans who don't normally attach themselves to our support," said Rangers chief executive Martin Bain.

"We have to identify anybody that was responsible for the acts of violence."

Fifteen officers were injured, as well as a police dog, and 42 arrests were made as riot police and supporters fought running battles.

One Zenit St Petersburg fan was stabbed, but his injuries are not life-threatening.

"Unfortunately a screen went down in the centre of Manchester without maybe a separate feed coming in as back-up, and it has obviously been the catalyst for some incident," Bain said.

We've been informed that those scenes were caused by fans who don't normally attach themselves to our support Rangers chief executive Martin Bain

"We're extremely disappointed and we'll do everything we possibly can to help Manchester Police find out who those perpetrators are."

Rangers security chief Kenny Scott insisted the club would take action against the troublemakers.

"The club will take the appropriate action," said Scott. "The difficulty is that many of these people will have no association with Rangers Football Club.

"That exacerbates our difficulties in dealing appropriately with the situation which occurred in Manchester."

Scott stressed that plans to accommodate visiting supporters in Manchester city centre on the day of the game had been extensive.

"I don't think there's an awful lot more that could have been done," he said.

"We saw yesterday afternoon great scenes in the city of Manchester.

"The city absorbed the numbers that were there, despite the fact they exceeded the numbers which were expected.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Were non-Rangers fans involved in the violence?

"But unfortunately the catalyst for the disorder last night was the breaking down of the screen.

"Though by no means do we condone the behaviour of the supporters who became involved in violence, particularly when police officers were injured and we particularly abhor that type of brehaviour, we still have got to reflect back on the fact that in the stadium the atmosphere was fantastic.

"We had positive comments from Uefa about the sporting behaviour of our supporters.

"In the city centre, if there were 120,000 people or so in the city centre, 200 or so according to police estimates and the estimates of the city of Manchester authorities, let down this club."

Uefa will wait until Friday before making any decision about launching an investigation into the violence.

Europe's governing body will assess a report from the referee and the match delegate before deciding on any action.

A Uefa spokesman stressed that, while they condemned the violent scenes in Manchester, events outside the stadium were outside its jurisdiction.