Hundreds of disappointed English soccer fans went on the rampage across the country, battling police after England lost to France in their first match at the Euro 2004 championship in Portugal on Sunday.
In the worst incident about 400 fans confronted officers in Croydon in south London, while there were serious outbreaks of disorder in central, eastern and northern England.
The trouble erupted shortly after the final whistle as stunned fans, whose team had been ahead till the last moments, vented their frustration on police.
"I deplore the level of violence that we have seen in Croydon tonight," Superintendent Nick Jupp said in a statement.
Police said 14 people were arrested following the hour-long disturbance there, which saw police vehicles and a tram damaged, and two officers needing hospital treatment for minor injuries.
In Birmingham, central England, up to 200 fans rampaged through the city centre, damaging a bus, leading to 12 arrests.
There were similar scenes of disorder in towns in Hertfordshire, north of London. In the most serious, five police officers suffered slight injuries when they confronted a crowd of 150 fans in Cheshunt.
In all 31 arrests were made across the county.
The trouble broke out after France's Zinedine Zidane struck twice in injury time to take title holders France to a 2-1 victory.
In contrast, police in Lisbon who had been braced for trouble after the match said the night had been quiet.
In Boston, eastern England, two police cars were overturned and set on fire and officers bombarded with bricks when trouble broke out involving around 70 fans after the match. Police said 11 men had been arrested including six for violent disorder.
There were also disturbances in Wakefield, northern England, involving several hundred fans who threw bottles and missiles at officers, leading to several arrests.
In Lisbon, England fans crowded nightspots and mingled happily with French supporters after the game.
Police arrested one England fan for allegedly punching an employee at the Lisbon stadium, a spokeswoman said.
England fans rioted at the European Championship in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2000. European soccer's governing body has warned England they will be expelled from this tournament if there is a repeat.
More from rediff