NEWCASTLE United has defended its good name after police revealed the club topped the list for the highest number of arrests in the Premiership last season.

The police National Criminal Intelligence Service revealed that 191 Newcastle United fans were arrested. Sunderland came second with 166 arrests, and Middlesbrough seventh with 105.

However, Newcastle United issued a statement yesterday arguing that the statistics did not tell the whole story.

Safety officer David Pattison said there were just 19 arrests inside the St James' Park last season and 21 directly outside the ground down a combined total of 51 the previous year. Many of the other arrests had taken place well away from football stadia. The total figures were "somewhat inflated" because they included 92 arrests at Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light last April.

He said: "We are very keen to emphasise that much of the report refers to public disorder away from football stadia and as such is not directly attributable to Newcastle United Football Club."

Newcastle's chief operating officer Russell Cushing said that Newcastle United fans won the Premier League Fair Play award last season.

"Their good behaviour was recognised and applauded thought the league during the season in question," he said.