Spurs question Spanish police approach

Spurs fans claim to be victims of an unprovoked attack at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, where the Spanish authorities were persuaded to eventually remove police from the away support.

Club secretary John Alexander confirmed that Spurs' safety officer, a Football Association security advisor and police who travelled from London were involved in organising the change after half-time, adding: "As soon as the police were removed from that section there was no more trouble."

But during the trouble in the first half, Spurs fans clashed with riot police following a problem with getting supporters into the stadium on time and subsequent segregation issues. It was during these flashpoints that seats were thrown at police and a disabled fan was allegedly "set upon".

Alexander said: "We have been distressed to hear about incidents involving our supporters at a time when they were showing no aggression whatsoever and also in respect of our disabled supporters being set upon by the Spanish riot police.

"We need to understand how we are in a position whereby we have two clearly identifiable Spurs stewards assaulted by the Spanish police, along with our disability co-ordinator being injured too."

He added: "There was one disabled fan who we know was hit with a baton with such force that it knocked him out of his wheelchair."

Police clashed with Manchester United fans in Rome 24 hours before Tottenham's UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg in Spain, with the injuries suffered by travelling supporters this week raising the issue of taking legal action against negligent officials.

Sports lawyer Mel Goldberg feels that the disabled fan would have a case if the attack was proven, but other supporters would be unsuccessful.

"If the disabled fan took action against the police he should be successful, clearly he wasn't a threat," said Goldberg. "For the other people, the police will say they were provoked and were trying to keep law and order."