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Nine officers and child injured in disorder before football match

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The man was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour, doing a provocative act, possession of fireworks/flares at a regulated match, indecent behaviour and attempted criminal damage

Nine police officers have been injured and a child was hit by a bottle before a football match in south Belfast on Friday night.

The disorder, which happened before the Irish Cup semi-final at Windsor Park, where Cliftonville lost to Dungannon Swifts, saw fireworks, flares and bottles thrown. A 19-year-old man has been arrested.

It happened during an approved public procession ahead of the match, which involved about 250 people.

Police said most people behaved peacefully but they saw "provocative conduct and the heavy use of pyrotechnics and fireworks - despite various warnings being issued against this".

The Parades Commission determination had placed conditions on a procession, applied for by some Cliftonville supporters, before it went ahead.

'Unacceptable behaviour' before and after match

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) South Belfast District Commander, Supt Fiona Dornan said the majority of football fans attending Friday evening's match behaved in a "peaceful" manner but a number of people "chose to engage disorderly behaviour and provocative conduct".

"There was completely unacceptable behaviour from a proportion of fans both before and after the match, at what should have been an enjoyable and safe event for all attending," she said, in a statement.

"Police will not tolerate disorder or criminal behaviour of any kind and, as always, we will continue to work with football clubs to address any inappropriate behaviour linked to people attending matches and ensure that the local community is kept safe.

"We will therefore be conducting a thorough evidence-gathering operation in the wake of last night's occurrences."

The man was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour, doing a provocative act, possession of fireworks/flares at a regulated match, indecent behaviour and attempted criminal damage.

He remains in police custody at this time.

Two other people were also reported for offences including the use of flares.

There were a number of potential breaches of the Parades Commission determinations in relation to the procession, which will now be investigated, police said.