Crossword Genius

Official upset over urban savagery (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ferocity

'savagery' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'official upset over urban' is the wordplay.
'official' becomes 'ref' (match official in football, say).
'upset' says the letters should be written backwards.
'over' becomes 'o' (cricket abbreviation).
'urban' becomes 'city'.
'ref' in reverse letter order is 'fer'.
'fer'+'o'+'city'='FEROCITY'

(Other definitions for ferocity that I've seen before include "Wild savagery" , "Savageness" , "Savage cruelty of temperament" , "Savagery, fierceness" , "Cruel violence" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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