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Man Utd followers fume at membership after Rangers supporters invade house stands at Old Trafford

The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust have released a statement condemning the club and security at Old Trafford for allowing hundreds of Rangers fans into home areas

Rangers fans celebrate in Manchester United end
Large groups of Rangers fans had tickets in the Manchester United end

The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) have slammed the club for letting large numbers of Rangers fans purchase tickets in the home sections at Old Trafford.

United hosted Rangers on Thursday in a pivotal Europa League game, which the hosts won 2-1 as captain Bruno Fernandes scored an injury-time winner. However, the game was marred by chaos in the stands as hundreds of Rangers fans bought tickets in the home end.

MUST have slammed the “inadequate” reaction from police and security to the numbers of away fans who had taken over areas in the stadium allocated to United fans.

About 100 Rangers supporters sought tickets together in the East Stand, right next to the away section, but were unchallenged by security even as they sang and their allegiance clear before kick-off.

United have pledged to look into the situation; however, it isn’t the first incident of its kind after thousands of Galatasaray fans infiltrated the home end during a Champions League group stage match in the 2023/24 season.

Rangers fans
Rangers fans travelled to Manchester in large numbers

MUST have urged any supporter who faced troubles on Thursday night to come forward with their concerns and said they will be taking the issue up with the club. “We’ve had many disturbing reports from last night highlighting incidents with Rangers fans in home sections,” was the word from MUST.

“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.”

Police on Great Ancoats Street
Violence broke out on Great Ancoats Street prior to kick-off(Image: Nick Butterworth)

“We have relayed to the club all issues sent to us but encourage anyone with information or evidence to report them directly via [email protected] 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.”

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“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.”

It was reported by the Manchester Evening News that Greater Manchester Police made 39 arrests connected to Thursday night’s fixture, including 26 from disorder on Great Ancoats Street.

Manchester United released a statement insisting they took the ‘strictest possible measures’ to prevent Rangers fans from buying home tickets.

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“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,” a spokesperson said.

“Hospitality tickets had the same restrictions applied. Tickets forwarded by season ticket-holders and members also 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.”