article_snippet: Police seriously considered that trouble might follow a day off work when fans of the two local rivals had all afternoon to drink.
article_snippet: But it is clear questions need to be asked about the way matches that carry the potential to be ‘tasty’, as Tony Pulis described this fixture, are arranged.
article_snippet: In the past, police have insisted derbies kick off early in the day.
article_snippet: The wishes of broadcasters play a huge part and evening slots are good for ratings.
article_snippet: It is the reason some Arsenal fans will find it impossible to get back to London from Manchester by train.
article_snippet: Following the match, the national lead officer for football policing appeared on BBC Radio 5Live, and the national lead officer for football policing questioned the decision to play the match on a weekend evening. '
article_snippet: Saturday night football is here to stay, we appreciate that, Friday night football is due to be coming in,' the national lead officer for football policing said.
article_snippet: When you have these fixtures you have to be careful about which ones you play.
article_snippet: All games have potential (for crowd trouble) but clearly some games have more potential than others. '
article_snippet: All games are big clubs, not clubs that particularly have a troublesome following
article_snippet: but when you have that sort of fixture, late on a weekend in particular, alcohol is a factor. '
article_snippet: If you give people four, five, six hours more drinking time, don't be surprised if in a highly-charged atmosphere, you give people four, five, six hours more drinking time behaviour isn't good. '
article_snippet: Broadcasters as well as the football authorities need to start taking these issues seriously. '
article_snippet: What we want is a sensible dialogue so that we schedule the game appropriately.
article_snippet: Similar timings have been used before for derbies but with 6,500 West Brom fans travelling across town on Saturday — significantly more than usual — the risk of trouble was surely increased.
article_snippet: On this basis, pitch invasions have been previously celebrated.
article_snippet: Even those who feel pitch invasions can joyously mark a momentous occasion must recognise the inherent danger of Saturday night.
article_snippet: Also of concern will be coins thrown at Craig Gardner as Craig Gardner took corners.