A teenager has been charged with a public order offence after disorder broke out in Cardiff City. The incident occurred ahead of the Championship match between Cardiff City and Bristol City on Saturday, February 15.
South Wales police confirmed Mackenzie Bailey, 18, from Yate, South Gloucestershire was charged with a Section 4 Public Order offence and bailed.
There were reports of “chaos” in Cardiff city centre on Saturday morning before the game at the Cardiff City ground on Leckwith Road. Witnesses said a bus was attacked and damaged and people were warned to “stay away from town” because it is “full of riots”.
Police said they were “aware of some incidents of disorder” that took place in Cardiff city centre ahead of Saturday’s match at 12.30pm.
A statement from South Wales Police said: “Officers were very busy ensuring supporters got to the stadium as safely as possible. A derby fixture such as this always comes with a highly charged atmosphere.
“Unfortunately there will always a be a minority that will seek to engage in disorder, but officers are responding quickly to stop any such incidents. A policing operation was in place to ensure both sets of supporters could leave the stadium safely following the match.”
After Bailey’s arrest, a spokesman added: “A man has been arrested for a public order offence in connection with this disorder.”
Various footage showed a large mob of fans clashing with police on foot and horseback. The clip shows the mob swarming around the city centre while police tried to keep the large group of football supporters separate from what appeared to be Cardiff fans outside the Prince of Wales pub. Other footage also showed the huge throng of fans carrying a giant England cross of St George flag.
One witness told Wales Online: “Football fans are hitting our bus as they go past, a masked one just booted the door of the bus that we are on. He’s cracked the glass. Bus driver has some sort of radio telling all buses to avoid town centre.”
After the match, police kept both sets of supporters apart as they left the Cardiff City Stadium. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Cardiff Council leader Huw Thomas later thanked the police and said there were “no ongoing issues” in the city centre.
He said: “Whilst it’s disappointing to see the behaviour of a handful of idiots, there are no ongoing issues in Cardiff city centre, and no reason to stay away. I’m told the incidents occurred around 10.30am – grateful to South Wales Police for dealing with it swiftly.”
Bailey was bailed and is listed to appear before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on March 14 at 10am.