Police deploy pepper spray, gas to disperse Ohio football fans: report

[January 13, 2015]  (Reuters) - Police in Ohio used pepper spray and tear gas to break up crowds celebrating near the Ohio State University campus following the school's national football championship win over the University of Oregon on Monday night, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

Video published online by the newspaper showed hundreds celebrating in the streets before police, some clad in riot gear, sprayed revelers and lobbed gas canisters into the crowds.

State and university police declined to provide information on the incident when reached by phone.

Columbus police said numerous dumpster fires were reported in the city, and added that it was unclear if anyone had been arrested. Further information was not immediately available.

U.S. college football's inaugural four-team playoff came to a surprising conclusion on Monday night as the Ohio State Buckeyes topped the heavily favored Oregon Ducks.

(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

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