SUSSEX Police branded the fan disorder during Crystal Palace’s visit to Brighton on Tuesday night a “return to the dark days of football.”

Chief Inspector Simon Nelson, who led the policing operation for the fixture, described how “groups of masked people” sought confrontation and supporters tried to gain entry to the Falmer Stadium with “pyrotechnics, knives and knuckledusters.”

Nelson also revealed that at one stage a large number of people, seemingly without tickets, overran turnstiles in the ground's south stand to force access to the away supporters’ section.

Disturbances also broke out at Brighton railway station, where frustration grew among fans set to miss the start of the match.

Six people, including one 15-year-old boy, were arrested, while two stewards — one from each club — had to be taken to hospital, one with three fractured ribs.

Both stewards were discharged later on Tuesday night.

Nelson said: “I have been involved in football policing at all levels and have been a match commander for Albion matches for 12 years, but I have never come across such concerted attempts to cause disorder and engage in violent behaviour.

“This was a return to the dark days of football and is not acceptable.”

Meanwhile, the Football Supporters Federation said yesterday it was investigating claims that some fans with tickets were held by police for more than 45 minutes before being marched back to the station and “encouraged to board trains regardless of their destination.”