Manchester United is launching an investigation after Rangers fans were spotted celebrating in the home sections of Old Trafford during Thursday's Europa League match, with the club acknowledging they cannot "completely eliminate" the possibility of away supporters obtaining tickets meant for home fans.
Despite allocating over 3,500 tickets to the official Rangers away section, television footage captured dozens of additional Rangers supporters celebrating their team's 88th-minute equalizer in areas designated for United fans. The Scottish side ultimately lost the match 2-1.
The incident has raised security concerns, with United stating they had implemented "strict" preventative measures to prevent away fans from securing tickets in home sections. The club emphasized that tickets were only distributed to supporters registered in their database.
However, United acknowledged the challenge of unauthorized ticket touting, making it impossible to completely prevent away fans from infiltrating home areas. The club has promised to impose the "strongest possible sanctions" against any registered ticket holders found to have violated regulations.
The match's aftermath saw significant police intervention, with Greater Manchester Police reporting 39 arrests throughout the night. Of these arrests, 26 were related to disorder in Manchester's city center.
This isn't the first time United has faced such issues. In 2023, the club was forced to apologize after more than 2,000 Galatasaray supporters gained access to home sections during a Champions League match at Old Trafford. The Turkish club was subsequently fined £44,420 for their supporters' behavior at the stadium.
The recurring nature of these incidents highlights the ongoing challenges football clubs face in maintaining segregation between home and away supporters, particularly during high-profile European fixtures.
