Shocking moment rival football fans clash and throw punches in chaotic town centre brawl
THIS is the shocking moment punches were thrown as a brawl broke out between rival football fans.
Cops have made 11 arrests after violence erupted outside a town centre pub in Bolton.
The row near The Anvil in Dorning Street followed a draw between Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
Footage of the fight, which has been posted on social media, begins with one man lying on his back in the street.
Two others, dressed in black, appear to be closing in on him when a brunette woman in a hoodie rushes in and slaps out at one of the assailants.
The man climbs to his feet before a lad in a grey hoodie jumps him from behind, swinging for him and wrapping an arm around his neck.
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As he stumbles away, he’s clocked by a bald man as the cameraman says: “Oh, you d***.”
The brunette woman rushes in again to try and protect him, but the attacker appears to punch out at her too.
She then strikes out at her assailant twice before being dragged away.
In the background, another man can be heard shouting: “Who the f*** are you?”
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Midway through the 16-second clip, police in uniform can be seen walking towards the brawlers.
An official from Greater Manchester Police said tonight: “Officers were deployed as part of the proactive operation surrounding the Wigan vs. Bolton game.
“The operation resulted in 11 arrests.”
There’s a long-standing rivalry between Wigan and Bolton.
Just a day before the game, Wanderers boss Ian Evatt said Wigan supporters should concentrate on their own club.
“Some of the things I say are provocative. I know that I am provocative, there is no denying that,” he told the Manchester Evening News.
“But some of the things I say are for the benefit of my fans, my club and my players.
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“It is not for them (Wigan fans) to read and want to listen to, I have no interest in them listening or reading what I have to say.
“They should concentrate on their own club like we concentrate on ours.”