Pc Mick Regan said the violence displayed by a hardcore minority of "a few thousand" troublemakers was unbelievable and frightening.

Violence broke out among the 100,000 fans who watched Rangers' 2-0 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester on Wednesday.

Fans turned their anger on police when a big screen operated by Bradford-based Lightmedia Displays, due to broadcast the game to 20,000 fans in Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre, failed before kick-off.

Pc Regan said: "From the outset we were bombarded with bottles and cans as we tried to contain and disperse the crowd.

"It was unbelievable when we got there, it was already in motion. It was frightening, on a different scale from any other match I have worked in my 23-year career.

"It seemed the vast majority were drunk and they just wanted to cause trouble."

Closed circuit TV images showed Pc Regan and six other officers retreating down a city centre street at about 10.15pm as fans hurled cans, bottles and rubbish at them.

Pc Regan confronted the pack and was punched before one of the mob tripped him up and he fell to the ground.

A gang of about 20 fans kicked and stamped on the 47-year-old before he escaped.

Pc Regan said: "When I got up and ran off, I saw two lads coming towards me.

"One tried to kick me. One of them shouted at me saying, 'I'm British Army, I'm a medic'. He grabbed me by the collar and he propelled me up the street.

"Then one of our vans came round the corner, he threw me in the back of it and off he went. Thank God.

"I feel lucky. Whoever that Army lad was, he wants a medal."

Pc Regan, a married father of two suffered bruising to both arms, sore ribs and an elbow puncture wound.

Fifteen officers were injured and a police dog injured a paw. One Russian fan was stabbed inside the City of Manchester Stadium.

Eleven Rangers fans, all men, were charged following the disorder.

Millions of Manchester United fans would miss out on a home-coming celebration should they win the European Cup after officials yesterday banned any parade.