Dreams now nightmares
Those still inside the stadium then made an orderly exit, although roads around the ground remained cordoned off as fans were shepherded away from the area where police were carrying out an inspection of the suspect package.
While the evacuation was occurring, a grim-faced United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had spoken to Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore about the game being called off.
The game has now been rearranged for tomorrow, which was described by a Premier League source as a “logistical challenge”.
That is putting it politely when you consider yesterday was the final day of the league season, United are involved in the FA Cup final on Saturday and then players are either joining up with their national squads or going on holidays.
Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion at 4.30pm. Police later said the device “wasn’t viable” – but that was hardly the point, as it rather put football fixture headaches into perspective.
Manchester City’s point at Swansea meant that even if United’s game had been played they could not have qualified for the Champions League.
They have been consigned to the Europa League, but the Bournemouth game tomorrow will decide whether United finish fifth or sixth. The fifth-placed team, currently Southampton, go straight into the group stages whereas the sixth-placed team need to play a third qualifying round, then a play-off round, which could impact on United’s pre-season tour plans to China and Wayne Rooney’s testimonial game.
Then there is the prize money. Each place is worth £1.25million. Not a great deal for United maybe, but the Cherries could move up two places and £2.5m is not to be sniffed at for a club with an 11,000-capacity stadium.
But fixture chaos and cash cannot override safety issues.
And the events make you shudder at the potential for carnage and chaos when Euro 2016 kicks off next month.