Police have been drafted in after thousands of Rangers fans descended on Manchester ahead of their Europa League game against Manchester United.
Videos circulating on social media have shown large numbers of chanting supporters being marched down a busy street in a police escort.
Some fans threw glass bottles at police officers and oncoming traffic in the hours before kick-off at Old Trafford, according to the Manchester Evening News.
It is said that dozens of police vehicles and tactical aid units were seen arriving in the city centre with blue lights flashing. Many fans were reportedly dressed in all black and wearing face coverings.
An eyewitness living nearby was quoted as saying: “I heard shouting outside and there were fans with balaclavas walking in front of traffic yelling at the police officers. They were throwing glass bottles at them and oncoming traffic.”
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed to Express Sport that officers attended the Great Ancoats Street area to ‘keep the peace’ following reports of disorder.
Another witness was quoted as saying: “They are wearing balaclavas and black hoods. Throwing bottles and shouting ‘who are ya’ at police. Passersby are fleeing. Traffic is at a standstill.”
Other videos circulating on social media appeared to show Rangers fans chanting in the home section at Old Trafford with dozens of United supporters in the immediate vicinity.
Rangers were given an allocation of 3,768 tickets for their game against the Red Devils, with the away end fully sold out. They asked for more tickets but their request was turned down by United.
The two clubs last played each other in 2010, when they were drawn in the same Champions League group. The first match at Old Trafford ended in a goalless draw, with United winning the reverse fixture at Ibrox thanks to a Wayne Rooney penalty.
In 2008, a huge number of Rangers fans descended on Manchester for their meeting with Zenit in that year’s UEFA Cup final, which was held at the Etihad Stadium.
Incidents of violence took place throughout the day, escalating into full-blown riots when a big screen erected in the city centre broke down. The troublemakers were a very small minority, with over 100,000 fans travelling down for the fixture.
It was reported at the time that 42 arrests were made, including six people who were held after a Zenit fan was stabbed inside the stadium. A judge later described it as ‘the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by [the] city centre since the Blitz’.
