BAN THE ANIMALS FOR LIFE; West Ham legend's fury at thugs.

Byline: MARTIN FRICKER

THE thugs involved in the Carling Cup violence between West Ham and old rivals Millwall must be banned from matches for life - after being jailed.

That was the demand of former Hammers stalwart Alvin Martin yesterday after police described Tuesday night's bottle-and-brick clashes as the worst they have ever seen.

Veteran officers among the 390 on duty were shocked at the extent of the rioting between the feuding fans outside Upton Park.

The mayhem, in which a man was knifed, was a throwback to the 80s-style hooliganism portrayed in the 2005 film Green Street. And defender Martin echoed the views of both clubs' chairmen, who have vowed to ban any troublemakers identified.

He said: "What happened in and outside the ground was sickening. It was clearly organised and those responsible should be locked up. And I don't mean for a few weeks.

"I mean for at least three years. Then they deserve to be banned from games for life. A lot of innocent fans were caught up in it all."

Thirteen supporters were arrested in the toeto-toe battles inside and outside the stadium.

The 43-year-old stabbed in the chest was stable in hospital last night with two more people injured as the yobs punched and kicked constables, PCSOs and stewards. The fixture had been assessed as Category C IR (increased risk) - the highest level of threat - and staff at The Queen's pub nearby had boarded up its windows in preparation.

Landlord Ron Bolwell, 70, said: "The ones causing the trouble weren't regular fans. They were baying and I've never seen that before."

But police, who are still scouring CCTV footage to try to trace the ringleaders, believe the fighting was arranged before the fixture by rival "firms" using email and text messages to pre-arrange where they would meet up.

One officer said: "It was the worst violence I've ever seen- just like the 80s. " Home Secretary Alan Johnson insisted: "We will not allow a return to the days when a minority shamed the name of football."

But intelligence sources even suggested some of the ringleaders had been banned in the past and still managed to get tickets.

TWELVE suspected hooligans were arrested yesterday following violence between rival Newcastle and Sunderland supporters at a train station on August 8.

After CCTV footage of the incident was released the men were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at various addresses across Tyneside and Wearside.

Voice of the Mirror: Page 8

CAPTION(S):

TOUGH TALK Ex-Hammer Alvin Martin OUTNUMBERED Riot cops try to hold off hooligan masses SICK TAUNTS Yob fans at Green Street near Upton Park BOTTLE VICTIM A fan lies dazed and bleeding in an alley