Fan invaded dressing room at Old Trafford

MANCHESTER UNITED staff were shocked to be confronted by a drunk fan who got into the first-team dressing room during Sunday’s Old Trafford protest. Nine staff, including team doctors, physios, masseurs and kit men, were preparing for the game against Liverpool when around 100 protesters broke into the ground and several made it through the players’ tunnel. One unruly fan reached the dressing room and shouted at staff, who feared for their safety as stewards tried to restore

order outside. It is a shocking indication of how seriously United’s security was breached, as the mob forced their way into the stadium and got on the pitch on two separate occasions. Sportsmail has seen CCTV footage confirming that a member of staff did not open the gates for protesters, despite a video on social media that showed stewards at the entrance as fans broke in. Corner flags and 25 match balls were taken by the supporters, who also threw a flare at the Sky Sports gantry and smashed a TV camera. Staff were told to lock themselves in offices in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. The dressing-room intrusion also poses a Covid threat to United’s first-team bubble, even though the squad were holed up in the Lowry Hotel. They were blocked by a group of demonstrators, who stopped them travelling to the game — which was eventually postponed following the security breach and clashes outside Old Trafford that left two policemen injured. The squad have been called in for routine Covid testing today. United revealed yesterday that fans who got inside the Munich tunnel and forced open an access door were responsible for letting in the first wave of protesters. It had been claimed the gates may have been opened by a member of staff and a video on social media appeared to show stewards at the gate, but the club insisted this is not true. A club statement read: ‘Reports that protesters were able to access the stadium and pitch via a gate opened by club staff are completely incorrect. ‘After breaking through barriers and security on the forecourt, some protesters climbed the gates at the end of the Munich tunnel, then forced access to a side door in the stand, before opening an external door that let others through to the concourse and the pitch. ‘A second breach occurred when a protester smashed the door of a disability access lift, enabling a group to enter the stand.’ United will only look to take action against protesters who engaged in violence and criminal damage rather than those who simply gained access to the pitch. The club will also launch a review into the security operation for the demonstration and how it escalated out of control. United and their security company Controlled Group Solutions face questions over their handling of the protest, considering up to 10,000 demonstrators had been expected. Club sources say it was their intention to be nonconfrontational, in keeping with a peaceful protest. They say using barricades and more heavily-armoured police from the start would only have risked inflaming the situation.