A report given to the Manchester United supporters forum said that 1,532 Rangers supporters obtain tickets in the Home Section of Old Trafford during the Europa League game which took place on the 23rd January
70 of those were ejected during the game says the report
567 official members, 105 club /competition contractual tickets, 367 hospitality tickets and 493 season tickets (of which 353 were forwarded to other people).
There were, says the club, several well publicised cases of people leaving the stadium early,
and then their seats being occupied by Rangers fans but these were all handled without any fans missing any matches.
Several thousand Rangers supporters congregated in the city centre prematch (with pyrotechnics) and 26 arrests were made due to violent disorderly behaviour
The report found that a small number of Rangers supporters entered through lower-level
turnstiles with home supporter tickets (and in non-club colours) and travelled primarily from the north to the east to meet other Ranger’s supporters in east home area.
A large group of around 80 Rangers supporters entered the stadium bowl and sat
in seats adjacent to the away segregation line at E236.
Prior to kick-off it became apparent Rangers supporters were in several
home areas and in significant numbers, primarily E236, East Tier 2 (200)
and S229.
It should be noted. said the club that there was no recorded confrontation at that
time and additional police resources and security staff were deployed into
the stadium to prevent disorder.
During this time home fans were unable to access their designated seats and we acknowledge the impact and disruption this will have had to affected fans.
Several reports of away supporters in home areas were received.Following liaison and advice from the police, a decision was made that ejection would put the safety of security and fans at risk due to the number of away supporters in some locations. Many Rangers fans were not identified until the time Rangers scored (88 minutes into the game).
“Following the game, we received around 400 formal complaints coupled with the significant coverage online in relation to the volume of Rangers fans visible inside the stadium.” says the report
