- Over 3,500 Rangers supporters were officially inside the ground on Thursday
- But significantly more were spotted sitting and chanting inside home sections
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why the Arsenal players will be laughing at Mikel Arteta behind his back
Manchester United will launch an investigation after a number of Rangers fans were able to get tickets in areas of Old Trafford designated for home supporters.
The club have also promised the ‘strongest possible sanctions’ for any registered ticket holders who might have helped sell them on.
Over 3,500 Rangers supporters were officially inside the stadium for the Europa League group stage match but significantly more appeared to have been able to secure a seat in the home end, resulting in complaints to United and the police.
Ahead of the game, United had put preventative measures in place to prevent away supporters from entering home sections.
However, a number of clips showing groups of individuals in Rangers tops chanting in a home section concourse quickly began to circulate on social media.
United have since insisted they took the ‘strictest possible’ steps.
Around 3,500 Rangers supporters watched their side’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester United
But a significant amount of away fans were able to secure seats in home sections
Rangers supporters were escorted to the ground by a large group of police officers
A club spokesperson 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 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.’
On the pitch, Bruno Fernandes fired a dramatic injury-time winner to push United to the brink of automatic qualification for the round of 16.
A 2-1 victory in the Battle of Britain tie lifted United into fourth place in the table and means a point against FCSB in Bucharest next week should be enough to clinch a top-eight finish and avoid a two-legged play-off.
The victory brought much-needed relief for head coach Ruben Amorim following his emotional reaction to Sunday’s defeat to Brighton, when he labelled his team perhaps the worst in United’s history.
Cyriel Dessers’ late strike looked to have secured Rangers a memorable point on the road
But United captain Bruno Fernandes then scored a dramatic winner in stoppage time
Ruben Amorim admitted his side ‘needed’ the three points as they continue to struggle
‘It was a victory that we truly needed in this moment,’ Amorim admitted.
‘We started well but lost control for seven minutes. Even when we suffered the goal from Rangers, they recovered. We are not playing our best – we are far from that – but we improved from the last game.
‘It is important (to qualify automatically) because it is two weeks free to prepare for the Premier League.’
‘We want to get to the final in Bilbao,’ said Fernandes. ‘We want to get top-eight so we don’t have to play two more games.
‘At this club, you need to win every game. You know that if you don’t win games here, it will be difficult. I hope our fans never get used to losing games. I hope they believe in this team to win games.’
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund could yet offer Marcus Rashford an unlikely escape route if United are prepared to lower their demands and pay more of the unsettled star’s £350,000-a-week wages while he is on loan.
Rashford watched last night’s game from a box in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.
