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GMP warns rowdy Manc football fans not to ‘ruin’ the FA Cup final for the ‘real’ supporters
"Don't let a moment of poor judgement lead to a criminal prosecution."
Emily Sergeant -
23rd May 2024 
Rowdy Manchester football fans are being warned not to “ruin” the FA Cup final for the “real” supporters this weekend.
History is repeating itself, as Manchester United and Manchester City are training hard in preparation to face each other again in an all-Manchester final of the Emirates FA Cup at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25 May.
2023 was the first time the two Manchester clubs battled it out for the FA Cup title in the final in the 153-year-old football competition’s illustrious history, and it was victory for the Citizens, with the trophy forming a crucial piece of their treble-winning season… but, in what seems to be a repeating turn of events, 2024 is the year of the re-match.
To no surprise, tensions are building by the day as it’s all set to be a massive day for football-obsessed fans in our football-obsessed city.
Some 90,000 fans are expected to be heading to England‘s national stadium for the game on Saturday – with rival supporters urged to take different travel routes to prevent traffic build-up and keep everyone safe – but thousands more will be watching it out and about across instead Greater Manchester.
And now, with only a couple of days to go until kick off now, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has issued a warning to all those potentially-rowdy ‘football-obsessed’ fans who are planning to watch the game in public places around the region that they should avoid “ruining the day” for the “real” supporters.
Police said supporters at last year’s final were “a credit to both teams”, and is pleading with them for the same the time around.
“This final promises to be a great day for our city, and we want to ensure everyone enjoys the day, whether that is in Manchester or in London,” commented Chief Superintendent Colette Rose, who is GMP’s Gold Commander for the FA Cup final.
“GMP has been working closely with partners, including other including the Met and West Midlands police forces, the UK Football Policing Unit, and British Transport Police, to ensure the day runs smoothly and that everyone can enjoy the game safely. Please also only travel down to London if you have a match ticket, as there are no alternative sites for fans to gather in large numbers.
“There will be a large police presence across the city of Manchester, as we always have for high-profile events, to ensure the safety of everyone, and we will also have officers on the routes down and in London.”
Speaking directly to fans, Chief Superintendent Rose continued: “It doesn’t matter where you are intend to watch the match, don’t let a moment of poor judgement lead to a criminal prosecution or a football banning order.
“We will take a firm approach to anyone ruining the day for the real football fans. If you have any concerns, please speak to one of our officers who’ll be more than happy to assist where possible.
Read more:
- Man City and Man United fans urged to take separate travel routes to FA Cup final
- FA Cup final confirmed for 3pm kick-off time as police stress safety for fans
- Manchester football fans warned of rise in resale ticket scams ahead of FA Cup final
“Be safe, be responsible, look out for each other and enjoy the game.”
Featured Image – GMP
