Manchester United news: Two ticketless fans slept overnight inside Old Trafford before Arsenal match
It is the second security breach in six months
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United have suffered a second security lapse in six months after two ticketless supporters slept undetected inside Old Trafford in an attempt to watch the match with Arsenal on Saturday.
According to the Daily Mail, the pair, understood to be foreign students, look an official tour of the stadium on Friday, the day before the 1-1 draw with the Gunners.
They then hid in the toilets at Old Trafford rather than exiting with the rest of the tour group, and were only spotted the morning after.
United say there was no risk to safety, with all those who go on stadium tours searched beforehand with metal detectors, as well as their belongings, and counted in and out by tour guides.
United have launched an internal investigation with alarm bells triggered that two members of the public could remain undetected inside Old Trafford only hours before a 75,000 sell-out Premier League game.
The police were called but no arrests were made.
A United spokesman said: "We realise people will go to any lengths to watch a game at Old Trafford but these people went too far. The fact that they and their belongings had been searched before entry means we are confident there was no risk to safety."
It is the second breach of security the Red Devils have suffered this year after the final league game of last season was postponed after a bomb – later found to be a dummy device left behind after a training exercise – was discovered in a toilet.
The Daily Mail were told: “You honestly could not make it up. The two have gone on the tour on the Friday and for some reason, they must not have counted the numbers in and out and they have stayed there overnight without anyone seeing them.
“After the Bournemouth fiasco they retrained all the staff and beefed up security and searches but then this happens.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments