10 arrests were made in the Liverpool v Man City match (Image: PA)
10 arrests were made in the Liverpool v Man City match (Image: PA)
A POLICE officer suffered a serious facial injury while making an arrest following Liverpool's match against Manchester City at Anfield, Merseyside Police have confirmed.
The PA news service reports that the officer was injured on Anfield Road at around 6.35pm on Sunday, October 11, as police made one of 10 arrests following the Premier League fixture.
The officer was taken to hospital and has since returned home to recover, the force said.
The arrests included one man suspected of two offences of assaulting a police constable, five people suspected of tragedy chanting, one person suspected of being drunk and disorderly and assault, two people arrested on suspicion of affray and one person suspected of throwing items on to the pitch.
Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said a comprehensive policing operation had been put in place for the match, with officers working alongside the clubs and fan groups.
10 arrests were made in the Liverpool v Man City match
(Image: PA)
She said: “The officers and stewards are there to protect the public and keep them safe, and it is extremely disappointing that an officer has sustained a serious injury while carrying out that duty.”
Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing, with police saying they want to ensure anyone responsible for criminal offences is brought to justice.
Chief Inspector Hobin also condemned tragedy chanting.
“The tragic loss of life should never be a subject for tribal point scoring,” she said.
“Football fans who chant about tragedies cause huge distress to the loved ones of people who died and their behaviour has absolutely no place in football.”
She said she hopes the arrests send a message to those engaging in such behaviour, warning they risked being taken into custody and receiving a criminal record.
Despite the incidents, Chief Inspector Hobin said the “overwhelming majority” of spectators behaved well.
Manchester City won the match 3-0, with goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki.
The fixture came after an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.
The club has appealed against the verdict.