Fans clash in pitch invasion as Wednesday drop

Rival fans clashed after the final whistle and Crystal Palace player Clint Hill was chased down the tunnel as police struggled to restore order at Hillsborough yesterday.

Sheffield Wednesday had needed a win to ensure their survival but could only manage a 2-2 draw in front of a sell-out crowd of 37,121– a result which meant their opponents avoided the drop. After the match a large group of Crystal Palace fans invaded the pitch to celebrate which led to hundreds of Wednesday fans confronting them.

As fans clashed Hill had to be pulled down the players' tunnel by backroom staff as a group of fans attempted to charge after him before being pushed back by police. Officers then formed a line across the pitch to separate the two sets of supporters. South Yorkshire Police said eight arrests were made for public order offences and assault.

"Essentially, Sheffield Wednesday supporters were involved in disorder outside the ground just after the game," said a force spokesman.

"Officers are reviewing footage from the police helicopter with a view to perhaps making more arrests." The spokesman said nobody was seriously injured during the disruption although police vehicles and nearby property were damaged.

The result means that Sheffield Wednesday returns to Coca-Cola League One – the third tier of English football – for the first time in five years.