Blog:Police to take hard line for cup games
Police in Manchester will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to hooliganism over the next week as they bid to avert violence at two of the most potentially explosive matches discount Mbt shoes in the city for years.
Manchester United play Leeds United in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford on Sunday, the first meeting between the bitter rivals for almost six years. Three days later United travel the short distance to face Manchester City in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are determined that the games pass without incident, but with emotions certain to be running high and given the disorder that has blighted the Carling Cup this season Mbt, a huge operation to crack down on troublemakers will be in place for both matches.
Leeds have sold all of their 9,000 tickets — more than three times the standard away allocation for Barclays Premier League matches at Old Trafford — but many more supporters are expected to head to Manchester, raising security concerns given the longstanding hostility between fans of both clubs. Troublemakers will be dealt with “quickly and robustly”.
The sale of alcohol will be “substantially restricted” around Old Trafford and across Greater Manchester on Sunday, with police hopeful that the 1pm kick-off will reduce the threat of drunken disorder ghd straighteners. Fans who turn up drunk may be arrested. GMP, who will work closely with West Yorkshire Police, the clubs and the FA, have urged supporters without tickets not to travel.
Superintendent John Graves, the match commander for GMP, said: “It has been several years since these clubs [United and Leeds] met and is a highly anticipated fixture for both sets of fans ghd hair straighteners.
“Everyone connected with this event has a responsibility to do all they can to make this a safe and enjoyable occasion, especially local businesses and travel operators. In recent weeks, we have been asking pubs and off-licences to limit their sales and opening times, and advising coach operators of the dangers of transporting drunken fans.
“Anyone arriving at Mbt.com. the stadium drunk will be refused entry and is likely to be arrested. We will not hesitate to make arrests of troublemakers.”
Security will be as tight on Wednesday. United have sold their allocation of 5,432 tickets at the City of Manchester Stadium for what will be the first meeting between the teams in the semi-final of a leading cup competition since 1969.
