Inside the chaos of the Rangers fans rioting 17 years ago during their UEFA Cup final defeat, with the disorder branded “the worst night of violence in Manchester since the Blitz”.

It has been 17 years since Rangers fans caused a massacre on the streets of Manchester when more than 100,000 Scots invaded the city despite only 13,000 of them having tickets for the Europa League final against Zenit St Petersburg at the Etihad Stadium.

After a day of heavy drinking, trouble arose when a giant television screen in a fanzone in Piccadilly Gardens failed.

Police clashed with fans and made 42 arrests in what a judge later described as “the worst night of violence and destruction suffered in Manchester city center since the Blitz”.

As Rangers return to Manchester on Thursday, Mail Sport spoke to an official caught in the eye of the storm.

The Rangers were famous for it. When they told us the final was going to be in Manchester and it would be Rangers, I thought 'Oh my God!' Although I didn't think it would turn out like this.

'I don't know what bright spark decided to gather over 100,000 people and let them drink as much as they wanted. It was the stalwarts who decided they were going to completely lose their minds and cause as much trouble as possible.

More than 100,000 Rangers fans descended on Manchester ahead of the 2008 UEFA Cup final

Trouble broke out on final night after a giant television screen in the fanzone failed

Police clashed with fans and made 42 arrests amid the destruction in Manchester city centre.

“Officers patrolling Piccadilly that day said tankers full of beer had arrived. It was like an oil tanker but instead of oil it was beer!

'They told us to go to the city because everything was starting and they needed as many police officers as they could. They said the screen had fallen and that's what started it all.

'We didn't have shields because they sent us so quickly, just our helmets and batons. The TAU (Tactical Assistance Unit) was already there. There were also quite a few other section patrol officers, but we were outnumbered.

'There was chaos. As soon as we got onto Piccadilly from Oldham Street, everyone was running. There were police officers running towards the crowd and bottles were coming closer. As soon as I entered the square, a full beer can hit me. At least I'd like to think it was beer!

“They were throwing bottles at us and the floor was full of plastic beer glasses. I remember it seemed like it had been snowing, there was so much snow.

“We managed to keep it under control and dispersed them, but they kept coming back and as soon as the game was over, a bunch of them came out of the pubs and joined them.

“I had played derbies and all kinds of things before, but nothing like that.”

A judge said it was “the worst night of violence and destruction suffered in Manchester city center since the Blitz”.

Only 13,000 fans had tickets to attend the final, in which Zenit Saint Petersburg won 2-0.

Rangers return 17 years later when they face Man United in the Europa League on Thursday.