A large number of police were reportedly called to a city centre bar as tensions between Sheffield Wednesday and United fans risked overflowing.
Eyewitnesses say the clashes began at the Common Room on Division Street after Sunday’s derby had ended, with United beating their rivals 2-1 and guaranteeing relegation for Wednesday.
Reports from fans who were in The Common Room whilst the game was on suggest that the violence was not from those who were there.
Tony Abdy, a Sheffield Wednesday fan watching the match at the bar, said: “It was quiet and a few Wednesday fans we stood by the bar. It was definitely uneventful and laid back until we left. If there was any trouble it wasn’t from customers watching the match which was good natured and quieter than I expected”.
“Anybody who started an incident must have arrived from somewhere else later”.
Other reports from witnesses on social media suggested that whilst a slight confrontation had occurred, the level of severity was massively exaggerated with the increased numbers of police being a precautionary measure.
One Instagram user said: “The police presence was a safety measure of course both sets of fan (are) going to cause an atmosphere at the Steel City Derby”.
Another stated their distaste at the incident, describing the conflict as ‘disgusting behaviour’ whilst others questioned the necessity of the scale of police response, citing the cost.
Shef News has contacted South Yorkshire Police and the Common Room about the incident.
Away from the Common Room, there were reports of other acts of aggression and violence across the city, with fans throwing projectiles such as cans, bottles and flares.
Injuries occurred as a result of these actions, such as one Owls fan, Steve Daff, who sustained three cuts to the head.
Following his injury, Steve Daff told the Sheffield Star: “Thankfully it hit me and not my daughter. I would have been fuming, absolutely fuming. But it doesn’t mean all Blades are bad. There were a few chucking things but it’s just a few idiots”.
A firecracker was also reported to have been thrown at a police horse outside Bramall Lane, the home of the Blades.
Eight arrests were made during the derby, with offences varying between, public disorder, intoxication and assault.
Scenes from around the ground here: