Rangers chief executive Martin Bain has said that poor organisation and over-zealous policing contributed to fan trouble at the club's Champions League match in Romania.

Police and stewards clashed with Rangers supporters in the Steaua Stadium during the game against Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest.

Rangers fans were targeted by police with CS spray before kick-off when they complained that they could not get into the ground because too few turnstiles were open.

Some of the estimated 2,000 travelling fans were seen throwing seats and surging forward to confront the security at the 27,500 capacity stadium.

Television cameras showed police and security using their batons and discharging what appeared to be pepper spray to repel the fans.

Rangers fan Iain Martin from Glasgow was at the game and flew back from Romania on Thursday morning.  He said: "There were only two turnstiles open and as families were trying to get in the people at the back were pushing and the ones at the front were trying to get in.

"The stewards had pepper spray and were spraying the people at the front with the pepper spray into their eyes and the riot police were out with the batons.  

"Thirty five minutes after the game had started people were still trying to get in to the ground and that caused a lot of grief."

Mr Bain condemned the "unacceptable" behaviour of some of the Glasgow club's travelling fans but he was also critical of the Romanian police tactics and shortage of entry access for spectators at the Steaua Stadium.

He said: "Obviously the behaviour of some of the fans inside the stadium was unacceptable and no-one likes to see that.

"However, what was equally unacceptable was the fact that Rangers came to this stadium with representatives from Uefa and Unirea a number of weeks ago and arranged for the four turnstiles to be open to give access to our supporters.

"When they arrived this evening there were only two turnstiles open which caused difficulty gaining access and (for) fans then to be sprayed with CS gas is totally unacceptable.

"I will now make representation to Uefa in their behalf."

Speaking after the match, Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, said that there had earlier been trouble outside the ground as fans tried to gain entry to the ground.

He said: "I’ve been told there was pressure at the front [of the crowd]. Spray was used, which was used before the match.

"The last time we had similar problems was in Artmedia Bratislava. They always seem surprised that we all turn up at the same time to try to get in.

"This is the Champions League. It’s supposed to be the best stadiums in the world. This ain’t the best stadium in the world."

He added: "In the big scheme of things this is a minor incident."

The match, played at the ground of Steaua Bucharest, ended in a 1-1 draw.

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