The dad of a teenage Manchester City fan who had to have a gash on her head glued after being hit by a pint pot 'weighed down with coins' has said she could have been killed.
The man's 15-year-old daughter is a huge Blues fan and the pair are regulars at matches home and away.
However, their trip to the Etihad for last night's Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool turned into a disaster when she was hit by a missile thrown from the section above them which was filled with 5,500 visiting supporters.
The victim was treated by medics at the ground for a deep cut on the back of her head which had to be glued.
Police are now investigating and are scouring CCTV footage in a bid to identify the culprit. And the girl's dad 47, from the Peak District, says it is imperative the person responsible is brought to justice and banned from future games quickly.
The man and his daughter, who the Manchester Evening News is not naming, were part of a group of six sat on the second tier of the South Stand immediately below the Liverpool fans.
And it was shortly after the Reds' first equalising goal which came twenty minutes into the game, that she was struck by a hard, reusable plastic beer cup that was full of liquid and also had a number of coins in it.
The cup shattered on impact leaving her, and several of the fans around her, covered in blood. "Someone has got beer into the stands, then filled it with coins and wanged it" her dad told the M.E.N. "It just came from nowhere. And the sound it made was something I will never forget.
"I have never experienced anything like it in my life. It was a mixture of anger and worry at the same time in unbearable quantities. Fortunately, my wife was brilliant.
"As were those who were sat around us. We alerted the stewards and they took us to the medical centre in the ground.
"It was weird being in there whilst they glued the wound, we could hear all the roars but couldn't see anything. It's immaterial but we missed the rest of the game. We got back to the family just as the final whistle went.
"She was obviously physically but also emotionally hurt by it. But in a way I feel she got off relatively lightly. It was horrible. Yet it's no exaggeration to say that it could have killed her. That's the crux of it."
The police were also alerted and seized the missile in an evidence bag. They have now launched an investigation, they have confirmed.
The dad said the response from City fans after he revealed what had happened on social media had been 'overwhelming.'
"I was born and raised in Cambridge and am a Cambridge United fan. So even though I have a huge amount of affection for them they aren't my team. But they are my daughter's team. And the reaction from Blues has just been absolutely amazing.
"She's been added to a City supporters girls' Whatsapp group and they've been messaging her this morning. And the amount of City fans who have reached out, it's been really touching. It has brought me to tears some of it."
The girl's dad now says his focus is now the culprit being apprehended and making sure it never happens again.
"I've been to over a hundred grounds at home and abroad, from non-league to some of the biggest in the world and I know what it's like to feel safe at a football ground and unfortunately that wasn't the case last night.
"I want City to ensure it never happens again. I've spoken to people at the club today and know they are taking it extremely seriously and I have faith in what they say they are going to do."
He also urged anyone with any information to come forward. "Someone in that Liverpool section will now know that a 15-year-old girl was hit and will be able to help identify that individual. Even if its giving a seat number or an area of the stand. I would urge them to come forward with anything that can help police."
As well as the incident involving the girl, police said they were aware of a 'number of objects' being thrown during the game, which City won 3-2. A 53-year-old man, understood to be a City fan, was also taken to hospital after being assaulted after the game at the junction of Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way.
Whilst reports have also claimed that disabled Liverpool supporters were subjected to racial abuse during the fixture, with a City supporter arrested and an investigation launched. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed a man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
GMP match commander, Superintendent Gareth Parkin, said: "We are aware of a number of objects, including coins and a smoke bomb, that were thrown during the match.
"We will be investigating the incidents and reviewing CCTV from the night. Clearly throwing objects in a confined area can be dangerous, and have serious and sometimes devastating consequences - GMP sends its thoughts and wishes to the girl who was injured and wish her a speedy recovery."
In a joint statement, the two clubs said: "Manchester City FC, Liverpool FC and the Chairs from our supporter groups have worked together in recent weeks to remind fans of our expectations and both clubs would like to thank the vast majority of fans for their behaviour at last night’s Carabao Cup match at the Etihad Stadium.
"It is however hugely disappointing that there were a number of incidents during last night’s match that are wholly unacceptable.
"These incidents will be fully investigated, reported to the police and the individuals who are found to be responsible will be subject to the sanction process of their respective club.
"Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC are fully committed to working together to eradicate these issues from our fixtures. They have no place in football."
Anyone with information can call GMP on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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