Police today played down the threat of race-related protests sparked by this weekend's high-profile football match between Bradford City and Leeds United.

Chief Inspector Ray Shepherd reassured residents living near city's Valley Parade ground that rumours of organised protests involving youths in Manningham were unfounded.

This weekend's derby clash has been placed in the highest-risk category by West Yorkshire Police. More than 200 police officers and 250 stewards will monitor the match in one of the city's largest ever policing operations.

The chairmen of both clubs have appealed for calm from supporters, and the tension surrounding the game has been heightened in the wake of the arrest of four Leeds players in connection with an assault on an Asian student.

There have been rumours on the Internet that Leeds United's involvement in the police investigation could lead to protests involving members of Bradford's Asian community. But Chief Inspector Shepherd, who is heading Sunday's policing operation, said today the assault was a "completely separate issue".

"It has nothing to do with the football match. The police operation does not centre on the assault investigation, although it is something we will be bearing in mind," he said.

"If anyone does want to hand out protest leaflets on the streets of Bradford, our operation with deal with it."

Manningham councillor Sajawal Hussain said he was not aware of any planned protests by members of the local community in connection with Sunday's match. And Khadim Hussain, vice chairman of Bradford Council for Mosques, said: "The last thing we want is for youths in the Manningham area to be marching in the street."

The four Leeds United players have been arrested and questioned by detectives investigating an assault on 19-year-old Sarfraz Najeib in Leeds.

Leeds United team mates Lee Bowyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Duberry and reserve team striker Tony Hackworth will report to police next Tuesday when they will learn if they have been charged.

Season ticket holder Rachim Singh, senior partner at Bassra solicitors, in Manningham Lane, urged the Asian community to hang fire.

"I expect there will be half-hearted protests and marches by members of the Pakistani and Moslem communities, but no-one knows exactly what's happened," he said. "I believe in the law and justice has to be metered out. They have not got a clue about what's happened and I would urge them to wait and see before they stir it up."

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