RIVAL FOOTBALL “casuals” from Dundee and Aberdeen are plotting violence at a Scottish Cup tie in Arbroath on Saturday, it emerged last night.

With Aberdeen fans heading to the town for the third round of the competition, it is understood thugs based in Dundee plan to make the short trip east to rekindle old rivalries.

Police last night declined to discuss intelligence issues in the lead-up to the match, but conceded that there will be “significant” numbers of officers in the town.

Premier League Aberdeen are on course to sell nearly 3000 tickets for the match at Gayfield.

Superintendent Angela Wilson, the match commander, said, “There will be a significant police presence at the match.

“Any disturbances will be dealt with accordingly.”

Football-related violence, though not at the levels of its 1980s heyday, continues to be carried out in the name of both senior Dundee clubs.

Police earlier this year staged a large-scale operation after intelligence was received about expected casual activity linked to a meeting of Dundee United and Aberdeen.

There have been a number of incidents involving casuals from Dundee this season, staring with pitched battles at a friendly in Falkirk in late July.

Just over a month later, a barrage of flying bottles forced around 60 thugs from Dundee to seek cover in an Edinburgh bar during a match against Hibernian.

Arbroath hasn’t been immune to hooligan problems either—an abandoned third-round match with Motherwell in 2000 was followed by fights between the two sets of fans on the streets outside the ground.