Channel 4 Football Cops footage captures ‘brawl’ next to CBS Arena in Coventry

CCTV has captured the moment a group of men reportedly clashed next to the CBS Arena in Coventry. It happened ahead of a match between Coventry City and Sunderland.

It featured on the brand-new series Football Cops, which aired on Channel 4 after the England and Bosnia and Herzegovina Euro 2024 warm-up match yesterday evening (Monday, June 3). Cameras followed a trouble-hit game which saw Coventry City FC take on Sunderland on February 25, 2023.

It was not long before things kicked off as both sets of fans were captured reportedly clashing at Arena Shopping Park in Longford. PC Stu Spencer, the Dedicated Football Officer (DFO) for Coventry City FC, also provided an insight into the violence and hooliganism he has witnessed during his time with West Midlands Police.

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Around 3,000 Black Cats’ descended on the CBS Arena for the long-awaited match, sparking a huge punch-up on the same morning (February 25), the show said. Police said they believed the ‘fight’ had been ‘pre-planned.’

The rivalry between the clubs goes back to 1976/77, when Coventry drew against Bristol City, scoring a goal that relegated Sunderland. Sky Blues legend Jimmy Hill was accused of doing his best to make sure the match ended in a draw to achieve this outcome.

It was 2-2 when the Sunderland game finished at the time. As far as many Sunderland fans were concerned, Coventry City had cheated, but an inquiry cleared Jimmy Hill and the Sky Blues of all wrongdoing.

Fast forward to last year and PC Spencer, who has been nicknamed Cardio, was policing the clash between Sunderland and Coventry City in February 2023. Tensions were high.

It was just minutes after PC Spencer had grabbed food from Triple Ate Batch Bar on Foleshill Road that violence reportedly erupted. A group of men were seen punching each other at Arena Shopping Park, the show said.

PC Spencer then sprung into action in a bid to identify the people involved, who he believed had fled to The Wheatsheaf Inn. He then managed to obtain CCTV of the incident which led to a Coventry City fan being arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and affray, it is understood. He was later released.

A man also interrupted the clash by running onto the pitch with a blue flare in his hand, which he claimed was part of a ‘gender reveal’ for his unborn child. He was later banned from attending matches for the next four years, it is understood.

Tempers flared once again after the Sky Blues stormed to a 2-1 victory at the CBS Arena. A foul-mouthed Sunderland fan said to Cardio: “Who paid for your jacket?

“Did I pay for your jacket? I did as well – with my f****** tax I paid for your jacket and your hat.”

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PC Spencer responded: “What have I done to upset you mate?” to which the unnamed man responded: “I paid for your f****g hat, you silly c**t.” He then climbs over the railings and is pushed back which sparks anger from other Sunderland fans who start ‘smashing and throwing the barriers.’

Cardio said: “It can be a lonely place being a DFO because generally, you are with the groups most likely to cause trouble. It is important to be on the front foot. We are there to basically keep the peace.”

Watch Football Cops on Mondays at 10pm Mr Channel 4.

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