Police making arrest at Cardiff v Millwall in 1999

A dozen detectives have spent the past nine months gathering evidence in Operation Javelin.

A further 29 others were arrested on the day for public order and drink-related offences.

The fans arrested this week will remain on bail until they appear before Stoke on Trent magistrates in February.

In addition, 22 Stoke City fans have also been charged with violent disorder.

Police say inquiries are continuing to identify a further 66 Stoke supporters involved in the trouble.

Their investigations have included watching hundreds of hours of CCTV footage in order to identify those responsible for the disorder.

Fences torn down

Trouble flared among Cardiff City supporters at a key relegation match against Stoke.

Police on horseback and officers armed with batons entered the ground shortly after half-time.

Problems continued outside the ground after safety fences put up to keep rival fans apart were torn down.

A massive police operation had been mounted to prevent rival fans from Cardiff City and Stoke City clashing during a key Division Two match.

Officers ringed the edge of the Stoke pitch to prevent any risk of trouble after kick-off.

Criminal element

Their enforced presence had followed threats of violence posted on the internet between rival fans ahead of the Sunday game.

At one point in the second half, the game was threatened with being abandoned.

Stoke - who are chasing a Divison One play-off place - went on to win the game 2-1, watched by 14,000 spectators.

Almost 2,000 Cardiff fans had been expected to travel to the Potteries for the match but police had urged anyone without a ticket to stay away.

Prior to the match, Staffordshire Police called in back-up from three other police forces amid fears of violence at the match.

The officer in charge of marshalling the game said "criminal elements" attached to the clubs had led to special policing arrangements being required.