Sport

Nearly 40 fans arrested after city centre clashes and Old Trafford chaos during Man United vs Rangers

There were problems before fans even made it into the stadium.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 24th January 2025

Dozens of fans were arrested following numerous clashes at Old Trafford and in central Manchester before, during and after Man United’s game against Rangers this week.

The Red Devils took on the Scottish side in a crucial Europa League fixture on Thursday night, with nearly 4,000 Glaswegians making the trip down to Manchester.

After reports of violence and disorder in the city centre a couple of hours before kick-off, there were also said to be issues regarding Rangers supporters trying to enter the ground with fake tickets as well as instances of ‘tragedy chanting’ regarding club disasters.

Worse still, further chaos was sparked after away fans infiltrated the home end, with security and actions from stewards being criticised around the stadium.

Sharing an update on Friday morning, Greater Manchester Police detailed that a 450-strong officer presence saw a total of 39 arrests made in connection with the fixture.

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26 were detained for violent disorder after fighting broke out around Ancoats at approximately 6pm as the Rangers fans were being prepared for their escort towards Old Trafford.

Other arrests included drug offences, drunk and disorderly behaviour, tragedy chanting, as well as assaulting a steward inside the ground.

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There were also continued problems regarding general safety, organisation and queuing around the turnstiles, which has been a recurring issue at the footballing arena of late, with many fans struggling to make it into the ground in time for kick-off.

Although the away fan presence was clearly an exacerbating factor, many United fans have once again called out the club for failing to address the issue which saw added congestion not only around the concourse but even in the stands in this instance.

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Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes, match commander for the game, said: “These high-profile fixtures are always exciting occasions, but they also naturally present challenges to ensure that the thousands of spectators can enjoy the game safely and to minimise disruption for the wider public.

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“Last night, we did see some incidents before the game which required a prompt response from our officers to prevent any further disorder and harm. Arrests were made and further disorder was prevented.

“An operation like this takes weeks, if not months, of planning with both clubs and all our local partners. Generally, the crowds have been really well-behaved and the vast majority have had a safe and enjoyable time watching the game in Manchester.”

United went on to narrowly win the game in the 11th hour thanks to a stoppage-time goal from captain Bruno Fernandes to spare their blushes but with lots of tough results and unpopular decisions happening around the club, they’ll need more than a last-gasp 2-1 win over Rangers to improve the atmosphere.

You can see the highlights from the game HERE.

Poorly placed Rangers fans being arrested over fake tickets isn’t the only admission issue they’ve had in the past week.

Featured Images — GMP (via X)