How United have beefed up security
MANCHESTER UNITED refused entry to supporters 541 times last season — a club record — amid increased security at Old Trafford.
The Premier League club are also giving staff counter-terrorism training and admitted they feared a hoax when they entertained Bournemouth in a repeat of the match which was called off due to a bomb scare last season.
A safety report, seen by Sportsmail, is illuminating. It reveals United are working with ambulance crews to reduce admissions to hospital — given the pressures on the NHS.
In October 2016, a fan collapsed on a concourse but resuscitation was immediately started with a defibrillator and cardiac drugs. The fan was later taken to hospital where he survived, had a stent fitted to his heart and attended a game just five weeks later.
There is also a reminder that hooliganism is not dead — the document reveals that three knives were found when United took on Stoke City.
But for more than 12 months, United have targeted anti- social behaviour such as ticket touting, away fans infiltrating the home supporters’ areas, clandestine smoking and drunkenness.
As a result, United made 541 turnstile refusals, ensuring there were only 48 arrests inside the ground in 2016-17, the lowest number ever recorded.
In May 2016, United’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth had to be abandoned after a ‘bomb’ was spotted by a fan behind a toilet door in the build-up to kick- off. As Sportsmail revealed the ‘ bomb’ was actually a dummy device left behind on a training exercise days earlier.
It is understood that for the same match the following season, on March 4 last year, United increased security amid fears pranksters could act.
The report states: ‘It was identified in the planning for this game that the nature of the fixture could attract hoaxers or pranksters trying to embarrass the club. Additional security measures were put in place (and) the match passed without any incident.’
After that debacle, all staff will now undertake an online counter-terrorist awareness course every year.