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Manchester United’s mice infestation made a public showing during their win over Southampton on Thursday as footage shared on social media appears to show a mouse running on the pitch.
The English giants have been battling a mice infestation since December when Mail Sport revealed the club had been slapped with a two-star hygiene rating after droppings were discovered on a visit by hygiene inspectors.
Club officials have been actively working with pest control partners and the local council to implement a series of measures aimed at tackling the problem.
Mail Sport understands that inspectors found evidence of mice activity in a ground level corporate suites and in a kiosk that sells food to fans on a concourse.
Now there is fresh concern after a video filmed by a spectator at Old Trafford shows a purported mouse scurrying across the Old Trafford turf while the match was being played.
The video shows a small animal jumping and dashing on the grass towards one of the penalty boxes as shocked bystanders watched on.
Manchester United ‘s mice infestation made a public showing during their win over Southampton on Thursday
Footage shared on social media shows a mouse running across the Old Trafford pitch
A mouse is pictured on turf at Old Trafford during their match against Bodo/Glimt in November
Stunned viewers on social media were quick to scathe United with one post calling on the league’s official body to take action, stating: ‘The Premier league really allowing this to happen in this day and age is this not illegal especially if they are selling food on the premises?’.
Another post took furious aim at United’s INEOS board over the incident, adding: ‘It’s become a joke of a club, mice in the stands and on the pitch, rats in the boardroom.’
United have held long-standing issues with mice and rats given the location of Old Trafford being directly between a canal and train track which both are popular homes for rodents.
The problem is often exacerbated by colder temperatures in winter, which sees the pests gravitate to warmer and sheltered areas. Given around 74,000 attend each home game, the club also have to deal with large amounts of debris.
Pest controllers are now thought to be visiting Old Trafford between four and five times a week.
United are considering demolishing the iconic stadium in favour of building a new state-of-the-art ground that would haul the club in-line with other world class facilities.
United came from behind to beat Premier League bottom of the table dwellers Southampton 3-1
United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (middle) is leading calls to build a new stadium
Another consideration is to renovate the existing premises, although minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stated his preference for a new ground to be built.
A club spokesperson previously addressed how they are trying to combat their rodent problem, stating in December: ‘Manchester United implements a robust pest-control system throughout Old Trafford.
‘Multiple weekly checks are made in all catering areas and stringent measures are taken to ensure levels of hygiene and cleanliness are high wherever food is stored, prepared and served.
‘If incidences of this nature do occur at the stadium, immediate and appropriate action is taken.’
