More than 1,500 Rangers fans invaded Old Trafford, and UEFA had an unusual response

A Manchester United investigation has revealed the extent of the infiltration of Rangers fans into home supporter areas at Old Trafford during a Europa League match. The club has admitted that more than 1,500 Rangers fans gained access to areas reserved for United supporters, leading to clashes and a tense atmosphere.

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The Europa League Match and Incidents

The Europa League match, which took place in January, was marred by numerous incidents of violence and disorder. A large number of Rangers fans were visible throughout the stadium, and the situation worsened when the Scottish contingent arrived late and celebrated with those fans.

Following the match, the club received over 400 complaints from United fans who claimed they were unable to access their seats, as they were occupied by Rangers supporters.

The Manchester United Investigation

The Manchester United investigation has revealed the alarming scale of the problem. A total of 1,523 Rangers fans gained access to areas reserved for home supporters. Of these:

• 567 were in seats reserved for club members.
• Gained access via 105 tickets sold by Rangers or given to supporter groups.
• 367 were in hospitality areas.
• 493 entered with United season tickets.

Decision Not to Intervene

Despite the significant security operation deployed for the match, club security officials decided not to intervene to remove the Rangers fans from the home areas. The primary reason was the sheer number of people involved, as they deemed they lacked the resources to carry out a safe and effective eviction operation. "There is no protection or security operation that can effectively remove more than 1,000 people," United officials told fan groups.

Clashes After Equalising Goal

The report also details that following Rangers' equalising goal in the final minutes of the match, several clashes occurred between fans of both teams. "There were several significant incidents at once, which were mainly instigated by Rangers fans and then confronted by United fans," the authorities stated. In some cases, United fans were "punched and assaulted" by Rangers supporters.

Manchester United's Response

Manchester United has acknowledged that these incidents left many home fans feeling "disappointed" and "unsafe". The club has stated they are taking action against fans known to have sold their tickets to Rangers supporters.

Additionally, the club emphasised that it was not fined by UEFA for any security breaches.