The fans became highly aggressive towards the police

South Yorkshire Police spokesman

For almost an hour 100 police officers attempted to restrain supporters who had planned the gathering through mobile phones.

"It was the fact that they couldn't get to each other for the organised punch-up which frustrated the fans and sparked it all off," a spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said.

An extra 200 officers had been deployed to cover the first division match.

"The fans then became highly aggressive towards the police, and officers had to use CS gas and baton to disperse the crowd."

Mobile phones

The spokesman said the clash appeared to have been organised within a short space of time after the match, via mobile phones.

The pubs and bars along West Street and Carver Street where the fans had been drinking were closed during the scuffles, shutting their doors as part of a police campaign in the area.

"There was always that possibility of trouble, bearing in mind the history between the two clubs," said the spokesman.

Police, who were forced to call for assistance from other divisions in the region, arrested 33 fans for public order offences.