Sam Allardyce backs bans for violent fans

Former Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has expressed his belief that the club are right to ban any fans proved to have been involved in the violence following the Tyne-Wear derby at the weekend.

Footage emerged of unrest in the Newcastle city centre after the Magpies' 3-0 loss to Sunderland yesterday, resulting in 29 arrests.

Newcastle released a statement describing themselves as "embarrassed and appalled" by the incident, promising life bans for anyone found guilty - a punishment that Allardyce believes is fully deserved.

"The scenes in Newcastle were outside not inside. That is the difficulty that the police have then in handling them. Just don't let them watch football anymore if they are football supporters. The worst thing for them every weekend is not being allowed to watch a live game," said Allardyce.

"These are isolated scenes, if they are dealt with swiftly and efficiently and the people involved are punished significantly - they are not allowed into football matches anymore - then we can move on. It is very difficult to consider that you would have a 100 per cent no violence record. Somewhere along the lines, the emotions of the game will spill over and you will get little pockets of disturbances like we had this weekend.

"Outside [of the grounds] is a different matter. Outside is outside. There is not a lot we can actually do about that, but inside, we do a fantastic job in the way we control our football matches. If somebody loses [it with] the red mist, then they lose it."

Allardyce was manager of Newcastle between May 2007 and January 2008.