HOOLIGANS connected to Wrexham FC travelled to Rhyl to battle fans from Irish club Bohemians before the kick-off of a European game.
The trouble came before the Dublin side’s Intertoto Cup second leg match against Rhyl FC on Saturday.
Police made 16 arrests as they swooped to quell the problems in and around the Queen’s Shopping Centre and on the High Street.
The meet-up, between around 40 rival fans, was apparently pre-arranged on the internet and stunned shoppers on the busy street.
Prior to the match, police had asked pubs to stay shut after the game following information about potential trouble.
And police staged a major security operation with officers in riot gear.
Richard Henderson, White Rose Centre shopping manager, said: “The Wrexham fans and some Irish fans ran riot in Queen’s Centre before it spilled onto the street.
“They were gravitating toward the White Rose Centre but the police stopped them. Emotions were running high but the police handled the situation and were right on top of it.
“There were masses of officers and fans were bundled into police vans and taken away.”
One source, who did not wish to be named, said: “This was arranged well in advance of the match and involved around 20 people from each club.”
North Wales Police said there had been 16 arrests for various public order offences.
A spokesman for Rhyl FC said they had been given prior warning from police that thugs from Wrexham had targeted the match but there had been no issues inside the Belle Vue ground.
Bohemians security officer Dennis Maher said supporters had behaved well, but police had informed him there had been an issue with Wrexham fans away from the ground.
In Ireland Bohemians outfit the Bohs Soccer Casuals have a reputation for drink-fuelled violence.
Wrexham also has a minority of violent fans, many in the hooligan group Frontline.
Mike Jones, from the Rhyl Fan’s Association, said: “The fans of both clubs got on really well and we were all laughing when we saw the level of policing.
“There was a line of 25 officers dressed like Robocop separating fans and around four riot vans, it was completely over the top.
“If police had concentrated on preventing the Wrexham lot getting here there would have been no issues.”
The Irish side won the game 4-2 for a 9-3 aggregate win.
