A total of 39 football fans have been arrested following the disorder between Manchester United and Rangers supporters on Thursday night
Officers from Greater Manchester Police said the arrests were made for a range of offences in the lead-up to the Europa League clash at Old Trafford. It comes as a group wearing balaclavas clashed with cops ahead of the fixture on Thursday, January 23.
The chaos broke out on Great Ancoats Street as both sets of supporters headed to the stadium. A number of police vans blocked off the road as a gang balaclava-clad thugs threw bottles.
Video footage showed the group charging down the street as sirens could be heard and glass shattering.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed to the Record that arrests were made for a variety of offences, which included 26 from the disorder on Great Ancoats Street. Rangers fans were also embroiled in violent exchanges with Man United supporters inside the stadium.
Shocking footage that emerged last night showed a number of brawls inside Old Trafford after Gers fans bought tickets in the home end.
One video shows fans accosting a man in a black jacket and throwing punches in his direction. Another clip shows fighting erupt in the middle of a row as punches are wildly thrown towards one supporter.
Manchester United say they took ‘strict measures’ to prevent away fans from buying tickets for the home end and vowed to take strong sanction against anyone who they can prove sold their ticket on.
A spokesperson for GMP said: “On the fixture last night, we made 39 arrests in total for a variety of offences, which included 26 from the disorder on Great Ancoats Street.”
A spokesperson for said: “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. 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.”
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