Rio Ferdinand had to shut his bar after police warned Leeds fans would ‘mash it up’

On Feb 6, 2023

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand revealed he had to close down a bar he opened in Leeds due to fears furious supporters would “mash it up”.

The former England captain became the most expensive British footballer of all time when he moved from Elland Road to Old Trafford in 2002. Leeds managed to pocket £30million at a time when they were desperate for money, but the club’s fan base were absolutely furious with the defender.

So much so the police reached out to Ferdinand to advise him to quickly close down a bar he opened in the area.

“I had a bar that was only just opened in Leeds and when I signed for Man United, the head of the police rang me,” Ferdinand said to William Hill. “I don’t know how he got my number, but he rang me and said ‘just to let you know, I’d advise you don’t open your bar.

“‘If you open your bar there will be people coming down to mash it up, we’ve got intel that they’re looking to destroy your place.’ So that place got put to sleep straight away, never opened again, dormant, gone.”

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Ferdinand was a very hated figure in Leeds when he joined United
(Image: Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Ferdinand moved from Leeds to United in 2002
(Image: PA)

That was only a sign of things to come for the England international. Ferdinand faced his former side on three separate occasions, before they were relegated from the Premier League in 2004.

Predictably, he was never greeted back at Elland Road with a warm welcome whenever he turned out in United red. “And then I started understanding the rivalry,” Ferdinand added.

Ferdinand didn’t quite appreciate the magnitude of the move at first
(Image: Vibe with Five)

“When we went back to Leeds with Man United for the first time, we actually got beat 1-0, I think. I had to have a police escort to get into the ground.

“Where the bus used to park to get into the ground you have to walk a little bit and, yeah it was madness, crazy.” Ferdinand won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, the League Cup, and the Club World Cup over the course of 12 trophy-laden years at Old Trafford.