A SENIOR policeman today apologised to soccer fans caught up in violent clashes at the Hull v Town game.
Chief Supt Paul Cheeseman, of Humberside Police, said the scenes outside the Kingston Stadium after last weekend's match had been "very distressing".
He apologised for delays in police officers restoring order when rival fans clashed in a car park after the 0-0 game.
Supporters from both Huddersfield and Hull had complained about a lack of policing.
Chief Supt Cheeseman said officers were already busy trying to keep apart rival factions in another part of the stadium complex.
Four Hull City fans were charged with public order offences after disturbances.
Chief Supt Cheeseman said: "Unfortunately innocent supporters became caught up in these events, which I would be the first to agree are distressing and not the sort of thing decent people and families want to experience.
"I am sorry they had their afternoon spoilt but stress that the responsibility for this rests entirely with the hooligan element.
"A number of mindless hooligans from both sides caused some problems.
"These occurred outside the ground when a crowd of hooligans tried to attack Huddersfield supporters."
