City chairman Peter Swales went further, describing it as 'wanton, moronic vandalism'. It led to a furious row between the the two clubs and, for a time at least, threatened the very existence of Leeds.

On the pitch the First Division clash on Remembrance Sunday, 1990, which was broadcast on ITV's The Match and is thought to have been the first Leeds league game ever shown live on TV, was a fairly low-grade affair. Leeds, back in the first division after an eight year absence, were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Lee Chapman and Carl Shutt.

After the break City, who were led by caretaker player-manager Peter Reid following Howard Kendall's departure, quickly pulled one back through Mark Ward, before Gordon Strachan re-established Leeds' two goal cushion. A consolation strike from David White in the 65th minute wasn't enough to get City back into the game.

But it was events off-the-pitch that would make the headlines in the following day's papers. Around mid-way through the first half the TV cameras cut to corner flag near the North Stand where several Leeds fans could be seen dancing on the pitch.

Around 58 supporters, who had found their way into the home end, were ejected but just two arrests were made. But it was behind the other goal in the Platt Lane Stand, where around 6,000 Leeds fans had been seated, that the real problems began.

Leeds were already walking a disciplinary tightrope after the notorious 'Battle of Bournemouth' on the final game of the previous season. Needing victory to secure promotion from the Second Division, some 15,000 Leeds fans descended on the south coast town for the Bank Holiday weekend match.

Mayhem ensued, with pubs and shops wrecked amid a series of running battles between police and hooligans. When the dust had settled 104 people had been arrested with police officers injured.

Following the riots the FA gave Leeds a suspended sentence. Any further trouble and they would be ordered to play four home games behind closed doors.

But they were also told the ultimate sanction would be the removal of their FA membership. That would mean they would effectively be kicked out of the league. The scenes also threatened to delayed the return of English clubs to European competition following the five year ban dished out following the Heysel disaster.

So when the damage emerged at Maine Road, the scrutiny was intense. Sixty rows of wooden bench seating with room for 1,500 fans were left shattered and splintered. City chairman Peter Swales, not a man known for pulling his punches, described the scene as 'complete devastation'.

He was seemingly supported by Greater Manchester Police, who were considering launching a criminal inquiry into the damage. "Not in the history of this club has this amount of damage ever been caused by visitors," said Chief Supt Ray Sherrat. "It's my opinion that the Leeds travelling fans are an absolute disgrace."

But across the Pennines another version of events was taking shape.

Leeds United director Maxwell Holmes said the club was 'firmly of the opinion that the damage was caused by its supporters as they stood on the seats to get a better view'. "There was no question of hooliganism or vandalism," he added.

Writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post, sports reporter Mike Casey hit out at Swales: "He's got it wrong. He seems to be a victim of the mass hysteria which has numbed those in authority - the Government, police, even Football League and FA officials - into believing that football is to blame for everything wrong with society.

"Apparently on evidence more flimsy than the park benches United fans are alleged to have smashed, the Maine Road club have seen fit to splash another stain onto United's reputation. It is astounding that in a country where crime is rampant, with innocent citizens and property suffering daily from the evil attentions of murderers, rapists, thieves and mindless thugs, a Manchester Police chief should get so caught up in the hysteria of a football incident that he should appear on national television to condemn Leeds supporters as morons."

With fears growing that the row could spill over onto the terraces, both clubs decided to row back on the slanging match.

"Soccer bosses at Manchester City and Leeds United today tried to defuse the row over £20,000 damage at Maine Road," the M.E.N. reported two days after the game. "Officials feared a 'war' between rival supporters and the threat of retaliatory action by hooligans."

And, it seems that did the trick with the FA. "In view of the fact that there was no hold up of the match the trouble probably would not be considered serious," a spokesman told the press. "But we will write asking Manchester City for their comments and probably look at a police report before making a decision."

And after reviewing the incident Leeds escaped without punishment. They went on to finish the season in fourth place, before winning the league for the third time in their history the following year.

City ended the season one place below Leeds - the first of two consecutive fifth place finishes. That would be as good as it got for the Blues for almost 20 years until Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group took over and transformed the club's fortunes.