Four arrested after Millers-Bradford FA Cup clash

A match steward and a policeman were both knocked to the ground when trouble erupted in the away stands.

Staff rushed to tackle the trouble minutes before the end of the FA Cup first-round match, which was a 3-0 victory for Rotherham.

Minutes later, a blue smoke bomb was lit and thrown onto the track behind the Millers’ goal.

One fan wrote on fan forum MillersMAD: “Saw one [Bradford fan] punch a steward and in the chaos that followed another steward and a copper ended up on the deck.

“What a set of Neanderthals they were!”

He also accused away supporters of goading home fans into fighting outside the ground. Other commenters pointed out that only a few were involved in the fracas.

Police removed three Bradford fans from the stadium and arrested them for public disorder offences.

A Millers supporter was also arrested outside the ground on suspicion of assault.

Chief Insp Caroline Rollitt criticised the “small number of so-called fans intent on causing trouble,” spoiling the game for well-behaved supporters.

Officers are watching CCTV footage from the ground to try and identify other offenders.

Millers manager Steve Evans said of the game: “Our performance was excellent, full of energy, tenacity and some stunning football against what I consider to be a very good opposition.”