Reporters filmed Cardiff fans undercover

The programme shows Hammam celebrating Cardiff's promotion to the Second Division with a group of fans, including members of the notorious Soul Crew gang.

But he has defended his actions, claiming it was necessary to understand hooligans in order to reform them.

The programme - Kicking Off - describes how the former owner of Wimbledon FC was treated as a messiah when he bought Cardiff City in the summer of 2000.

Triumphs and trouble

The club was languishing in the Third Division but, two seasons later, have only narrowly missed promotion to the First.

However, as Cardiff City's fortunes on the field improved, its hooligan reputation got worse.

Hammam has been accused of inciting fans

At the end of Hammam's first season at the club, the Bluebirds were promoted to the Second Division.

The programme shows how known hooligans were among the selected fans treated by the chairman to a coach trip and champagne reception at a hotel outside Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Following the event, Hammam told a local newspaper that he was "proud to travel with the Soul Crew".

In his defence, Hammam has claimed to have a policy of rehabilitation of hooligans, saying can tame them with "love and hugs".

Gerry Toms is unconvinced by Hammam's tactics

But former police chief superintendent Gerry Toms, who was head of the Cardiff division of South Wales Police, told the programme he was sceptical of such an approach.

He said: "To bring people who have clearly been involved... directly and indirectly, in football hooliganism into the heart of the football club is really, in my view, almost endorsing their behaviour."

National disgrace

Cardiff's hooligan problem came to a head in January when the club's shock FA Cup victory against Leeds United at Ninian Park was marred by violence.

Among the troublemakers was former Bluebirds player Dai Thomas, who was jailed for 60 days.

A pitch invasion followed the Leeds game

The disturbances prompted Hammam to launch what he called a "war on hooliganism".

But further trouble followed an end-of-season playoff against Stoke City and the FAW Premier Cup Final with Swansea City.

On Thursday, Cardiff was fined �20,000 by the Football Association of Wales for misconduct over the trouble at the Leeds game.

The next day it was revealed that Cardiff were top of the list of clubs whose followers were among more than 1,000 suspected hooligans banned from travelling abroad during the World Cup.

Watch Hooligans: Kicking Off on Sunday 19 May on BBC Two at 2100 BST or live online via the Hooligans series website.