Manchester United & Rangers Plan Joint Security Operation For Champions League Clashes

Manchester United and Rangers are implementing unprecedented joint security measures in order to prevent crowd trouble when the clubs meet in this season's Champions League. Club chiefs are keen to avoid a repeat of the scenes during and after the 2008 UEFA Cup final, held at the City of Manchester Stadium, when thousands of Rangers fans descended on the city.

There were major outbreaks of trouble during that evening, with police officers attacked and extensive damage to property around the city centre. Rangers fans travelling to the Old Trafford tie will have to travel on official coaches or not be allowed to attend the match at all, according to the report. Their coaches will also be directed to Wigan Atheltic's DW Stadium, some 17 miles or so from Old Trafford, where their match tickets will be distributed, in order to decrease the risk of trouble in Manchester.