Pub wrecked as football fans clash

Football fans fought in the streets bringing terror to London both before and after Millwall's First Division clash with Portsmouth.

A pub near Waterloo station was wrecked as 100 rival fans clashed in what may have been a pre-planned attack.

Later hundreds fought in the streets outside Millwall's ground after the home side's 1-0 win. The fight before the game erupted when about 20 Millwall fans threw pool balls through the windows of the Windmill pub, where their rivals were drinking. They then charged in and a fight began which left every window in the pub broken. Shards of glass were scattered over the pavement and broken furniture and glass littered the inside, much of it splattered with blood.

Landlord John McElhinney, 29, was behind the bar. "It all seemed very well organised by the Millwall fans," he said. "Around seven of them charged in the pub.

I was behind the bar and was too scared to put my head too far above it. The Portsmouth fans started retaliating by throwing stools back out."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said that by the time officers arrived the rioters had fled. He said: "An ambulance was sent but no one was treated." Later, up to 250 fans clashed after the match and bottles and stones were hurled in Ilderton Road, Bermondsey. Two people were arrested for public order offences. Several had minor injuries.

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