Inside the chaos of Rangers fan riots 17 years ago during their UEFA Cup final defeat - with disorder labelled the 'the worst night of violence in Manchester since the Blitz'
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It’s 17 years since Rangers fans brought carnage to the streets of Manchester when more than a 100,000 Scots descended on the city even though only 13,000 of them had tickets for the Europa League final against Zenit St Petersburg at the Etihad Stadium.
![[Troubled had flared on the night of the final after a giant TV screen in the fanzone failed]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/18/94403069-14314359-image-a-54_1737572386542.jpg)
After a day of heaving drinking, trouble flared when a giant TV screen in a fanzone in Piccadilly Gardens failed. Police clashed with fans and made 42 arrests on what a judge later described as ‘the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by Manchester city centre since the Blitz’.
![[Police clashed with fans and made 42 arrests amid destruction in Manchester city centre]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/18/94403075-14314359-image-a-55_1737572393552.jpg)
As Rangers return to Manchester on Thursday, Mail Sport has spoken to one officer caught in the eye of the storm. ‘Rangers were renowned for it. When we were told the final was going to be Manchester and it was Rangers, I thought ‘Oh, my God!’ I didn’t think it was going to turn out like that, though.
![[A judge said it was 'the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by Manchester city centre since the Blitz']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/19/94403079-14314359-image-a-56_1737572403475.jpg)
‘I don’t know which bright spark decided to have more than 100,000 people and let them drink as much as they want. It was hardcore who decided they were going to get completely off their heads and cause as much trouble as possible. Over 100,000 Rangers fans descended on Manchester ahead of the 2008 UEFA Cup final.
![[Only 13,000 fans had tickets to attend the final, with Zenit St Petersburg earing a 2-0 victory]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/19/94403081-14314359-image-a-57_1737572413697.jpg)
Troubled had flared on the night of the final after a giant TV screen in the fanzone failed. Police clashed with fans and made 42 arrests amid destruction in Manchester city centre. ‘The officers who were patrolling Piccadilly in the day said they had tankers turning up full of beer for them. It was like an oil tanker but instead of oil it was beer!.
![[Rangers return 17 years on when they face Man United in the Europa League on Thursday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/19/94403379-14314359-image-a-59_1737573023612.jpg)
