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Middlesbrough release statement deploring incidents during and after Sheffield United match

General View from inside the Riverside Stadium during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Stoke
Image: Troubled flared inside and outside Riverside Stadium on Saturday

Middlesbrough and Sheffield United are working to identify supporters behind trouble that marred Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash.

Both teams have condemned the scenes which saw around 200 fans clash in the wake of Boro's 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium, with Cleveland Police saying on Sunday that five arrests had already been made.

Children as young as 10 years old were injured and one policeman was taken to hospital after being hurt during the flashpoint in a car park outside Middlesbrough's ground.

Trouble had started in the stands after the Blades were denied what would have been a last-gasp equaliser, with fans invading the pitch - violence then continued outside the ground.

Cleveland Police confirmed on Monday morning that a 47-year-old man from Sheffield had been charged with a public order offence and will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court on September 8.

Two males aged 20 and 58 were cautioned for a pitch invasion, and two more males aged 35 and 52 were released under investigation on suspicion of affray. A 22-year-old man was released with no further police action after being arrested on suspicion of possession of a class A drug.

A Middlesbrough statement on Monday morning read: "Middlesbrough Football Club deplore the behaviour of the people involved in the incidents which occurred at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday and will do our utmost to ensure that they are identified and appropriate actions are taken.

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"We pride ourselves on being a family club, and there is absolutely no place for the incidents of violence and threatening behaviour that occurred both inside the stadium and also in the coach and car park areas after game.

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Sheffield United

"We also condemn the wanton vandalism and destruction of club property that occurred in the concourse area within the away enclosure.

"As a club we adopt a zero tolerance towards the type of behaviour that was witnessed on Saturday and we will be working closely with Cleveland Police and Sheffield United officials, using the extensive CCTV footage we have available, to identify the culprits and bring them to justice.

"We are also meeting with a number of supporters today, who were unwittingly caught up in the disturbances outside, and we shall be seeking their views on the scenes that occurred."

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Hear from an unhappy Chris Wilder as Sheffield United's winning run came to a controversial end against Middlesbrough

Jason Harwin, Assistant Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, vowed tough action against the troublemakers.

"We will absolutely not tolerate violence of this nature and we will work to identify the offenders and bring them to justice," he said. "The vast majority of fans accept that football is a family game, watched by children, parents and grandparents.

"It's terrifying for children to witness such violence, or be innocently embroiled in it as their parents frantically try to keep them safe. Unfortunately a small minority of people behave in a manner which puts innocent fans at risk."

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