Newcastle 'embarrassed and appalled' by behaviour of fans
Premier League club vow to ban supporters who caused trouble after Sunderland match
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Your support makes all the difference.Newcastle have said they are “embarrassed and appalled” by the violence in the aftermath of their defeat to rivals Sunderland on Sunday.
The Premier League club added that they would ban "so-called fans" caught causing trouble in the wake of the derby defeat at St James' Park.
A statement said: "We were embarrassed and appalled by the behaviour of a minority of so-called fans who last night were involved in disturbances and disorder in Newcastle city centre after the match."
Video footage showed some fans throwing bottles at police while perhaps most shocking of all was a man appearing to direct a punch at a police horse.
In total, 29 arrests were made following the disturbances in the city centre after the match.
The Newcastle statement continued: "Newcastle United have been working with Northumbria Police, and will continue to do so, in order to identify all of the individuals concerned.
"The club will take the strongest possible action against those involved in the disturbances and will impose immediate lifetime bans on all those found guilty.
"These deplorable individuals have no place at Newcastle United and bring shame on the club and the vast majority of its proper, law-abiding fans."
Yesterday Chief Superintendent Steve Neill, of Northumbria Police, said: "The vast majority of fans were well behaved today and enjoyed the Tyne-Wear derby for the great occasion that it is.
"Disappointingly, there was some disorder involving what appear to be Newcastle United supporters following the match in the city centre, including an incident at Central Station.
"Disruptive behaviour of any kind is not tolerated. Inquiries will take place into these incidents and action will be taken against all those involved."
In relation to the horse, West Yorkshire Police Horses Twitter account tweeted a picture of Bud and said he was not injured during the scuffles.
It said: "Bud is safe in his stable and appears fine. All our horses are fit and well, resting and relaxed."
A crowd of 52,355 packed into St James' to see Paolo Di Canio's Sunderland upset the odds and record their first derby win on Tyneside for 13 years to boost their chances of avoiding relegation.
Defeat left Newcastle, who bowed out of the Europa League on Thursday evening, only two points better off on 36, five clear of the drop zone with just five games to play.
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