Police believe they have broken the hooligan ring that was tarnishing Bradford City fans.

Six men were jailed yesterday for their part in violence at the Centenary Tournament in the city last summer.

That brings the total who have been convicted for their part in the disorder between rival Bradford City and Aberdeen fans to 22.

Fourteen have been jailed and 21 have been given football banning orders totalling 104 years. The orders bar them from grounds in England and Wales for between three and seven years.

Chief Inspector David Lunn, of Bradford South Police, said the number of officers patrolling home games at the Bradford and Bingley Stadium had been reduced this season after the success of the investigation, codenamed Operation Olive.

"We want to send out the clear message that this was unacceptable and we wouldn't allow it on our streets in Bradford," he said.

"This operation was just the beginning. We're getting football intelligence all the time and taking action against violent people.

"We will do all we can to protect the people of Bradford and ensure the streets of the city are safe for law-abiding citizens.

"Following the success of the operation we have been able to reduce police resources and officers at games which is good news for Bradford City, the people of Bradford and West Yorkshire Police.

Bradford South Police football liaison officer PC Jamie Smith said: "This sends out the message that we have taken out the ring leaders of violence at the club."

Bradford City's managing director Shaun Harvey said: "Hooliganism has no place in football and from our perspective the Bradford and Bingley Stadium is a very safe place to come to.

"Any hooliganism that does exist is outside the stadium in the city centre.

"However it's football that gets branded as being the cause of it.

"Bradford City Football Club is delighted that the courts are taking a positive approach to people who engage themselves in this kind of violence.

"As a club we've got all kinds of family initiatives and we're proud that this type of disorder doesn't occur inside the stadium.

"We are doing everything in our power to keep hooligans away from the club."

Jailing the men at Bradford Magistrates Court yesterday, District Judge David Thomas warned football fans: "Get involved in disorder and you go to jail."

A police video recording showed the court how violence flared after fans spilled out of the Goose pub into Ivegate on July 26 last year.

Punches and kicks were traded and street signs were hurled through the air as fans clashed.

Swansea and Coleraine were the other teams taking part in the tournament to celebrate Bradford City's centenary.

Judge Thomas said: "Bradford has suffered its share of violence over the past few years. This was clearly not on the scale of those matters. But it was a serious incident of public disorder.

"The message must go out to people who choose to involve themselves in public disorder.

"If convicted then inevitably a custodial sentence will follow."

He commended the police for stopping it escalating and said he was sending the defendants to prison even though some had not been in trouble before.