Four charged after football clashes

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The four, aged 30, 28, 26 and 22, were among nine people arrested during disturbances that marred the build-up and aftermath of Northern Ireland's crucial 3-2 victory over Poland at Windsor Park.

They are all charged with disorderly behaviour linked to trouble at a city centre pub on Bedford Street before the game and the 26-year-old is also charged with possession of a firework without a licence.

Police said the majority of the nine arrested were Polish. The other five were released without charge.

Rival fans fought with each other and clashed with riot police in sporadic confrontations across Belfast throughout the day. The Bedford Street bar was badly damaged when chairs were thrown through the window and the Tates Avenue area close to the ground was sealed off as police came under attack from fireworks, traffic cones, bricks, bottles and other missiles.

Local police commander superintendent Chris Noble said: "We believe there was a hard core of Polish nationals who came to the game without tickets but with a very clear intent to cause trouble and disruption to genuine supporters and local residents.

"We believe these troublemakers are not local; they have travelled to Northern Ireland with the express purpose of causing trouble. Unfortunately their actions may well have put the safety of law abiding and local Polish residents in jeopardy."

There was also trouble inside Windsor Park, with the match held up during the first half when an assistant referee was hit by a missile thrown from a crowd of Northern Ireland supporters in the North Stand just after Poland scored.

Polish fans were also involved in disturbances in the closing stages of the match.

Supt Noble said officers would now be analysing CCTV footage in an effort to catch those involved in the trouble across the city.