The police operation to keep the lid on trouble at yesterday's Bradford City match against Leeds United was today being hailed as a success - which, indeed, it was, given the pre-match fears expressed by the chairmen of both clubs.

However, although there was nothing like the large-scale trouble that had been feared, the match can hardly have been said to have passed off without incident. There were 11 arrests, 15 people were ejected from the ground and a woman handing out anti-racist leaflets outside was attacked.

One very clear thing to emerge from yesterday's match was that the tickets strategy in the Ciba stand, which allowed Leeds supporters to acquire tickets in the Bradford section, is misguided. It is very difficult for the club to control the sale of casual, single-match tickets, but surely some kind of token system could have been devised under which only City fans could have had access to them.

It might have meant a few empty seats and consequent modest loss of revenue, but that is a small price to pay compared with the more important consideration of public safety. In truth, things could have taken a much nastier turn in the Ciba stand. All clubs should ensure full segregation inside their grounds, no matter what the economic costs.

Thankfully, that will happen in the Ciba stand next season when it is made all-season-ticket, and Valley Parade will be a safer place for all concerned - home fans and visiting fans alike.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.