THE Rangers Supporters' Trust have called for "appropriate action" to be taken against those involved in the trouble which marred the UEFA Cup at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday night.
Violence broke out both inside and outside the ground as Rangers went down 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg.
Hundreds of fans turned violent when a big screen showing the match in the city's Piccadilly Gardens failed to work just before kick-off.
Fifteen officers were injured, as well as a police dog, and 42 arrests were made as hundreds of riot police and supporters fought running battles. One Zenit St Petersburg fan was stabbed but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Stephen Smith of the Rangers Supporters' Trust said they hoped the club would act against those responsible for the violence adding that this could include issuing lifetime bans from Ibrox.
"It was a very small minority who were responsible and the vast majority were a credit to the club," he added.
"We would want any of those individuals who are identified to be receiving punitive sanctions from the club, and I am sure they will."
An inquiry is under way and the rampaging fans were described as a "disgrace" who could have jeopardised England's bid to host the 2018 football World Cup, Gordon Brown warned.
The Prime Minister condemned the supporters involved in violent clashes with police and said public drinking laws would also be reviewed.
Meanwhile, Rangers officials have said individuals with no known history of following the club were among those believed to be involved in the trouble.
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said: "Those scenes obviously are dreadful and I've seen them myself and we have been informed...that those scenes were caused by supporters that don't normally attach themselves to our support.
"Therefore 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 told Sky Sports News: "The difficulty is of course that many of these people will have no association with Rangers Football Club and that exacerbates our difficulties in dealing appropriately with the situation which occurred in Manchester."
Mr Scott said that despite the trouble they had "positive comments" from UEFA about the sporting behaviour of the majority of their supporters.
He added: "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."
Hundreds of fans turned violent when a big screen showing the match in the city's Piccadilly Gardens failed to work just before kick-off.
Fifteen officers were injured, as well as a police dog, and 42 arrests were made as hundreds of riot police and supporters fought running battles. One Zenit St Petersburg fan was stabbed but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Stephen Smith of the Rangers Supporters' Trust said they hoped the club would act against those responsible for the violence adding that this could include issuing lifetime bans from Ibrox.
"It was a very small minority who were responsible and the vast majority were a credit to the club," he added.
"We would want any of those individuals who are identified to be receiving punitive sanctions from the club, and I am sure they will."
An inquiry is under way and the rampaging fans were described as a "disgrace" who could have jeopardised England's bid to host the 2018 football World Cup, Gordon Brown warned.
The Prime Minister condemned the supporters involved in violent clashes with police and said public drinking laws would also be reviewed.
Meanwhile, Rangers officials have said individuals with no known history of following the club were among those believed to be involved in the trouble.
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said: "Those scenes obviously are dreadful and I've seen them myself and we have been informed...that those scenes were caused by supporters that don't normally attach themselves to our support.
"Therefore 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 told Sky Sports News: "The difficulty is of course that many of these people will have no association with Rangers Football Club and that exacerbates our difficulties in dealing appropriately with the situation which occurred in Manchester."
Mr Scott said that despite the trouble they had "positive comments" from UEFA about the sporting behaviour of the majority of their supporters.
He added: "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."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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