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Man Utd speak out on Rangers fans in the home end, fighting, glass bottles thrown

Man Utd speak out on Rangers fans in the home end, the fighting, and glass bottles thrown on the streets nearby the stadium.

The club say they had taken strict measures to prevent away fans from buying tickets in home areas, however despite this, Rangers fans were still able to takeover parts of the home section, seen dotted around Old Trafford.

Manchester United promise that the “strictest possible measures” will be imposed on those found to have sold their tickets to away fans.

They are also investigating how fans managed to access these tickets, a clear breach seen as Rangers fans were seen celebrating and singing in the home sections, but that led to chaos as some individuals were pushed,  pulled and caught up in fights, some being ejected.

Manchester United supporters have expressed frustration over the security measures failing to prevent such incidents not just in the stands, but on the streets too.

Darren Webb @United_Webby: “Manchester United football club, you are an utter disgrace selling all those tickets to the Rangers fans, little children crying coming out, that’s your future because us old school reds don’t last forever. Enjoy the money you made tonight. It could have caused mayhem at full-time.”

Chief Man Utd writer for the Manchester Evening News, Samuel Luckhurst: “Three messages from three friends here tonight in different areas of the ground: ‘Kicked off from every angle immediately after Rangers.’ ‘Police running around in the concourse of the north stand after the game.’ ‘Saw four get a kicking at HT in the concourse and thrown out.'”

MAN UTD STATEMENT:

“In anticipation of the risks around tonight’s game, we took the strictest possible measures to prevent sales to away fans in home areas.

“Tickets were only allocated to people who existed on our database prior to the draw taking place in August. Hospitality tickets had the same restrictions applied.

“Tickets forwarded by season ticket-holders and members had the same restrictions applied (i.e. they could only be forwarded to fans on our database prior to the draw).

“Whilst the unauthorised touting of tickets has become more difficult since our introduction of in-app digital ticketing, it cannot be completely eliminated.

“All examples of away fans in home areas will be investigated over the coming days, with the strongest possible sanctions taken against the registered holders.”

A Manchester United Supporters’ Trust statement read: “We’ve had many disturbing reports from last night highlighting incidents with Rangers fans in home sections.”

“Some were occupying seats of home fans, refusing to move and even threatening them when they tried to take their own seats. In the worst cases there were incidents of fighting as a result of these away fans being in home sections, with no Police/security response.

“Certainly no United fan should face any sanction as a result of away fans being in home sections and not being dealt with by police or security.

“We have relayed to the club all issues sent to us but encourage anyone with information or evidence to report them directly via feedback@manutd.co.uk so they are formally logged.

“What is particularly frustrating for our supporters is we’ve had incidents in recent weeks of security snatch teams entering the stadium to eject our own fans for minor incidents such as vaping. Similarly warning our fans about standing persistently in seats in areas such as the Stretford End where fans have traditionally stood without incident for 25 years!

“And yet there is no security response to away fans who are illegitimately in home sections presenting a direct security threat and even involved in fighting.

“MUST and Fans Forum members will be raising these matters with the club pending the outcome of investigations to firstly identify how these away fans obtained entry to home sections and secondly why there was an inadequate Police or security response to their presence.”

A witness has described to Manchester Evening News what they saw as police officers arrived at the scene on Great Ancoats Street, groups of fans, many dressed in black, chanting and shouting.

Passers-by ended up running away with multiple police vehicles arriving at the scene, before ‘hooligans’ started shouting at police and throwing bottles.

At least ten police vans and TAU officer vans are at the scene blocking the roads, controlling the crowds.

“They are wearing balaclavas and black hoods,” one witness said. “Throwing bottles and shouting ‘who are ya’ at police

“Passersby are fleeing. Traffic is at a standstill.”

Greater Manchester Police confirm they were called to ‘low level disorder’ on Great Ancoats Street, and add that the presence was called to the area to ‘keep the peace’.

A witness living nearby has said glass bottles were hurled at police and oncoming traffic.

“I heard shouting outside and there were fans with balaclavas walking in front of traffic yelling at the police officers,” he said.

“They were throwing glass bottle at them and oncoming traffic. They are still at the top of Great Ancoats Street now.”

Another witness said: “Police made a few arrests, I counted 6-7. The last one was being put in a TAU van.

“Some of the Rangers fans were dressed in all-black and walking down Tib Street.”

Twitter users gave their reaction as Man Utd speak out on Rangers fans in the home end, the fighting, and glass bottles thrown…

@dipsMUFC: The policing and stewarding was an absolute shambles last night. Considering how heavy handed they are with us for the smallest things. I.e standing up (!) – how has that been allowed to happen with no consequences?! Looked like pure chaos in various parts of the ground #MUFC

@gerryman1979: Disgrace this and putting families and children at risk with their ticketing procedures. Safeguarding issue @ManUtd

@99redmanmike: This is solely on the club. I was shoulder to shoulder with them in the K Stand & whilst I experienced no violence I know there was plenty. The fella I was stood next to said he had an executive ticket and simply walked through doors and jumped barriers to walk over to their fans

@Rudeboiifizzy: Its not surprising is it it’s been happening for good few seasons the glazers and ineos only care about making money they do not care about the fans do not be suprise somewhere don’t the line they try pushing us season tickets holder out

@The__1958: This is what our club has become.
– Money over loyalty
– Money over fan safety
– Money over dignity
– Money over everything
We have all seen what happened last night. A carbon copy of Galatasaray last season. Which the club assured us wouldn’t happen again. The club is fully responsible for this putting fans and their children at risk. Fights breaking out all over the stadium in the home sections. Large blocks of Rangers fans in ‘K’ stand. We encourage all fans to escalate their experience of last night to the club and send via feedback@manutd.co.uk For transparency and accountability, please copy in our email address so we can monitor numbers and make sure this isn’t just pushed under the carpet again. Send to fanissues@the1958.org To enforce change visibility transparency and accountability is key. PURPOSE – ACTION – RESULTS. FC58 🇾🇪

@RudiMufc: United fans getting kicked out of K Stand after kicking off that they couldn’t get to their own seats by stewards. Seen 3 of them get launched just before kick off and not one copper or steward did anything about the massive group of Rangers fans in there. What a shit show

@KING_NIALL_M: There were 2 rangers fans next to me. The club sold them their tickets. The guy who normally sits next to me has opted out of the cup so it’s on the club

@gerryrb: They will lay all the blame on season ticket holders and put even tighter restrictions on us in the hope we fall foul of the rules and they can take our ‘cheap’ season tickets off us and sell them match by match with street food for a few hundred quid a game. You watch. Nailed on

@danwalker7: As we entered via an East Tier 2 turnstile 30 mins before kick off, I overheard a steward saying “be careful, there’s loads of rangers up there”.!! That was the extent of the stewarding and he was right, it was full of rangers fans with tickets sold by the club. Embarrassing.

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