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Hundreds of Newcastle United fans were yesterday accused of causing chaos before one of the Premier League's most controversial matches of the season.

They ran onto pitches near Wigan Athletic's DW Stadium, disrupting amateur games by dropping their trousers, ripping out the nets and hanging on cross bars.

Fans later boasted about the trouble they caused - including stealing a £65 match ball - on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Newcastle United players witnessed scenes of pandemonium as they arrived at the ground before their 2-1 defeat on Sunday.

The match itself was overshadowed by the controversial tackle on Newcastle's Massaido Haidara by Wigan winger Callum McManaman. The young Frenchman was stretchered off and taken to hospital after the challenge, which has been widely condemned but will not be punished by the FA.

Before the match, 250-300 Newcastle fans caused chaos as amateur side Wigan Cosmos played AFC Leigh Centurions in the South Lancashire Counties League.

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A Cosmos spokesman said: "As the fans spilled out of coaches, they proceeded to watch the game from the touchline.

"Some then chose to run on to the field of play, dropping their pants, causing the game to be stopped. The situation then magnified as around 250-300 Newcastle United fans followed suit.

"Although good-natured at first, the fans then started to rip out corner flags as they ran over the pitches and also took the match ball. We never recovered the ball, though we did manage to recover the corner flags.

"The so-called fans then decided to charge over to the adjacent pitch where Goose Green Reserves were entertaining Olympic AFC. They again began by ripping out their corner flags.

"The fans then charged into the goalmouth, jumping on to the goalposts in an attempt to snap the crossbar with the sheer numbers. They started to rip the nets from the posts, tearing them and trying to take them. Our players helped to retrieve the nets.

"After spending some time singing and hanging on the goalposts, the fans ran back over to our pitch whilst singing 'We're Newcastle United, we'll do what we want'."

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No one stepped in to prevent the chaos from the authorities present at the ground for the Premier League, the Cosmos spokesman added.

"This incident was a very distasteful experience that lasted for over 40 minutes and with families, dads, granddads and youngsters all watching the games as well as some quite experienced players who were all left shaken."

Cosmos put the cost of replacing the ball and the damaged nets at £200. The club has contacted Newcastle United, and an official told them they were 'aware of the incident', which is being investigated by Lancashire Police.

The Toon's True Faith fan zine condemned the vandalism, and is organising a donation to Cosmos to make up for their losses.

Newcastle said the fans' behaviour was "unacceptable".

In a statement, the club said: "Newcastle United are very disappointed with the behaviour of a minority of its fans who were involved in the vandalism of equipment belonging to Wigan Cosmos Football Club and pitch incursions during their game against AFC Leigh Centurions on Sunday 17th March which caused the match to be stopped.

(Image: Wigan Cosmos)

"Our travelling fans have a very good reputation, but the actions of a minority on this occasion were wholly unacceptable.

"Football, at all levels of the game, deserves the same degree of respect whether it is played in the Premier League or at the grassroots level.

"We were sorry to learn that this South Lancashire Counties Premier Division game was disrupted in this manner and we would urge anyone who witnessed this incident to contact Greater Manchester Police."

A further statement on Newcastle's Twitter feed thanked those fans who had reacted positively to last weekend's disturbances and pledged to reimburse Wigan Cosmos.

"Thank you for all of your positive efforts and warm wishes towards Wigan Cosmos. Newcastle United will be covering the club's costs."