Cardiff City chairman Sam Hammam is set to defend himself against a BBC documentary which questioned his commitment to tackling the club's hooligan problem.

The BBC Two series Hooligans broadcast on Sunday night showed him celebrating Cardiff's promotion in 2001 in the company of known troublemakers from the notorious Soul Crew gang.

Reporters filmed Cardiff fans undercover

The Lebanese businessman has previously defended his actions, saying it was necessary to get to know hooligans in order to reform them.

Hammam is due to give his reaction to the programme in a live phone-in on BBC Radio Wales at 0830 BST on Monday.

The programme - Kicking Off - described 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 he 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.

Hear Sam Hammam on BBC Radio Wales from 0830 BST to 0900 BST Monday - you can listen live online.

Call 08700 100 110 to take part or email [email protected].

You can also post your views in our Talking Point on the story.