Mob of fans set off flares in ploy to break into the Amex in "return to dark days"

The Argus understands at least 150 fans, many without tickets, set off flares and bangers outside the ground to disturb sniffer dogs before trying to break their way through closed turnstiles.

It is believed they deliberately boarded a later train at around 7.40pm with the intention of causing disruption upon arrival.

Many of the fans did not have tickets, and innocent Palace fans got caught up among the hooligans as the away section was locked shortly after kick off.

Stewards decided enough was enough when flares were set off, and opted to close the turnstiles in the away section to prevent trouble being carried into the ground.

In one video of the shocking footage, a woman can be heard screaming: “Dad, stay here, I’m not going in there.”

Despite efforts from police and stewards, around 40 ticketless louts managed to get into the stadium.

Flares were set off inside the Amex during the 0-0 draw, but it is said to be hard to detect them due to their size, and people can hide them in places where they cannot be searched.

Albion have apologised to travelling supporters who had tickets and were not allowed in, but made the decision with safety in mind.

All the troublemakers can be “seen clearly” on CCTV, and Sussex Police are now investigating the matter to try and identify the criminals.

Police bosses said Tuesday night’s match, the first meeting between the two rivals in more than four years, was the toughest fixture they have ever had to police.

Some hooligans had knives and knuckledusters.

Chief Inspector Simon Nelson, who oversaw policing for the match, said the trouble was a “return to the dark days of football”.

He said: “I have been involved in football policing at all levels and have been a match commander for Albion matches for 12 years, but I have never come across such concerted attempts to cause disorder and engage in violent behaviour. By late afternoon, groups of masked people, apparently linked to both Albion and Palace, were seeking confrontation with each other and police around Brighton.

"Along with British Transport Police colleagues, we had to deal with a number of incidents at Brighton railway station, which caused tailbacks of people queuing for trains, who understandably were frustrated that they were going to miss the start of the match.

"The safety of everyone involved was our priority.

“Outside the stadium, we dealt with a number of public order incidents, particularly amongst a contingent of away supporters who were being escorted from the railway station.

“We are aware that a significant number of people attempted to enter the ground with pyrotechnics, knives and knuckledusters, which were found following efforts to gain access through fire exit doors in the south stand."

Paul Barber, Albion’s chief executive, said: “The disorder was caused by a minority of individuals who attempted to gain entry to the stadium without tickets.

“Thanks to the swift action of the club’s stewarding team, supported by Sussex Police, we avoided further, major disorder – and while some genuine fans were left extremely disappointed and unable to get into the stadium, the correct decisions were made.

“I’d like to thank the majority of fans of both clubs for their good behaviour and patience in complying with the instructions of our stewards and police.”

Palace condemned the behaviour of the troublemakers.

A club statement said: “We have been made aware of a small group of supporters attempting to gain access to the Amex stadium last night without tickets while using bangers and flares.

“This kind of antisocial and criminal behaviour is completely unacceptable and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There are very clear images of the incident and we will work with the police to identify the supporters involved, who will face stadium bans as well as potential criminal proceedings.”

Six people were arrested in connection with the match.

Michael Shaw, 45, an electrician of Truleigh Drive in Portslade, has been charged with being a football spectator failing to comply with a banning order.

Kamar Jalal, 30, a financial director of the Savannahs in Langshott, Horley, and Mark Kentfield, 41, an administrative assistant of Duke Terrace Street, St Leonards, have been charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

They were released on bail and will appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on December 14.

A 15-year-old boy from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of throwing or discharging a missile, along with a 26-year-old man from South Croydon. They were released under investigation. A 51-year-old man from Worthing was arrested on suspicion of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

"I was ashamed to be a Palace fan"

HOOLIGANS caused mayhem in the hours before and after Tuesday night’s match between Albion and Crystal Palace.

The Argus has gathered accounts of the most serious events which took place either side of the 0-0 draw at the Amex stadium.

Hardcore Eagles fans, known as “ultras”, announced their arrival in Brighton early in the day by sharing a picture of themselves on social media in Queen’s Road with a banner hanging from railings.

Around 50 fans were clad in black, with some wearing balaclavas.

The Palace ultras tweeted at 7.15am on Tuesday: “Palace are here.

“No pubs including spoons letting in away fans apart from Buddies bar on the seafront. Get down here for a couple before we beat the scum.”

The mural of Albion captain Bruno was daubed with red paint on Monday night, although Palace fans have not been held responsible.

Travelling fans left their mark near the Amex early in the day as the club’s acronym, CPFC, was seen etched on a wall at Falmer Station.

As kick-off dawned, Seagulls fans took to pubs near Brighton Station to prepare for the game.

Once Palace fans were spotted in Queen’s Road, trouble erupted and police had to form a line to block the street to prevent fans clashing.

A group of Palace louts were later seen confronting officers inside the station as they were asked to leave, with one bleeding from the back of his head.

Outside the ground before kick-off, trouble erupted as away fans let off flares and bangers, causing anxiety and injuring their fellow fans.

Palace supporter Will Coussens drove from Falmouth for the game, and could not get in until the second half because of the actions of the hooligans.

Mr Coussens, 21, filmed the drama, in which a woman can be heard screaming: “Dad, stay here, I’m not going in there.”

He told The Argus: “I walked over from the station and just saw smoke and heard screaming.

“There were some scared kids, it was shocking.

“The minority ruined it for the others, and it was a minority.

“But, for the first time in my life, I was ashamed to be a Palace fan.”

He added: “If you don’t have a ticket, you don’t try and enter the stadium. It’s simple.

“Some people were covering their faces with balaclavas. I don’t know who they think they are going to a football match dressed like that.

“You should have to show your face to get into a stadium.”

Mr Coussens spoke to another Palace fan who was injured after the game – by an Eagles hooligan.

She told him that “something needs to be done about the so-called fans” who took bangers into the stadium, and said a fan hit her on the leg with one.

It left the woman with a “small flesh wound”.

The injuries did not stop there.

Two stewards, one from either club, were hospitalised on Tuesday night, while a number of others sustained minor injuries.

The Albion steward suffered three broken ribs. He was discharged from hospital late on Tuesday night.

Palace’s steward had badly bruised ribs but escaped with minor injuries as he was discharged after being given pain relief.

Both clubs gave well-wishes to the stewards in their statements.

Chief Inspector Simon Nelson, overseeing the match for Sussex Police, said the events had shades of the football hooliganism that was notorious in the past.

He said: “We will be reviewing our operation and discussing the events of the afternoon and evening with the clubs.

“This was a return to the dark days of football and is not acceptable.

“We will also be carefully studying CCTV from in and around the stadium and the city in conjunction with Brighton and Hove Albion and colleagues from the Metropolitan Police to identify those responsible for the disorder.”

No arrests have been made in connection with the Bruno mural defacement.