Twelve Glasgow Rangers hooligans involved in rioting after the Uefa Cup Final in Manchester will be sentenced on Thursday.
They were arrested in the hours of violence during and after the Scottish club's defeat at the City of Manchester Stadium in May 2008. Some estimates have suggested that up to 150,000 fans descended on the city to see the match, which Zenit St Petersburg won 2-0.
Trouble first erupted after a giant screen in Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre failed close to kick-off time. Hundreds of drink-fuelled Rangers fans went on the rampage, fighting, hurling bottles at police and destroying property.
A number of police officers were attacked and injured. Manchester City Council had set up special fan zones with big screens for those without tickets to watch the match.
But the council was criticised for not clamping down on outdoor drinking, with many Scots supporters emptying local supermarkets of alcohol hours before the game started. Many angry fans blamed officials for the screen's failure which they claimed sparked the trouble.
The 12 to be sentenced face a variety of public order and assault charges. They will be dealt with during a day-long hearing at Manchester Crown Court.
Last week, Rangers drew Manchester United in the Champions League, meaning fans of the Ibrox side will once again travel to the English city. However, strict measures have been put in place by the two clubs, Strathclyde Police and police in Manchester to avoid a repeat of the 2008 violence.
It emerged earlier this week that Rangers fans will be bussed to and from the game from the DW stadium in Wigan and the only fans who will get tickets will be members of the official Rangers Travel Club.
Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson have both said they do not expect any violence around the game, which will be held at Old Trafford on September 14.
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