Operation FA Cup final – part two: Police to assign Manchester City and United different motorway service stations amid fears of violence after clashes following last year’s game
Rival fans will be guided to Wembley via separate routes again as part of a major security operation to prevent trouble flaring at the all-Manchester FA Cup final on Saturday.
United and City are taking approximately 36,000 supporters each to the game and they will be told to use different motorways between Manchester and London, with service stations designated as red and blue to try and avoid potential flashpoints.
Police want United fans to travel down the M6, M42 and M40, and City to use the M1. However, supporters don’t have to follow the advice and there were reports of clashes at Newport Pagnell Services on the M1 and Oxford Services on the M40 after City beat United 2-1 in last year’s final.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the same measures will be in place on Saturday, having implemented them last year to avoid a repeat of the trouble when United met City in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final.
Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson warned then of ‘absolute chaos’ before fans clashed at motorway services and around the stadium, leading to 34 arrests.
Rival fans are once again set to arrive via separate routes for the FA Cup final at Wembley this week
Manchester City and Manchester United supporters will be told to use different motorways
Greater Manchester Police are keen to avoid a repeat of when United met City in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final, when Sir Alex Ferguson (pictured) warned of ‘absolute chaos’ – there were also reports of clashes last year
The travel problems last year were exacerbated by a national rail strike that meant a total of 160 official coaches were laid on for fans. By comparison, United have only booked 12 coaches this year.
The joint operation by the Metropolitan Police, GMP and British Transport Police is likely to involve more than a thousand officers being on duty around Wembley. The kick-off has already been brought forward to 3pm on police advice.
The authorities are determined to keep any trouble to a minimum, with Wembley set to host the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid a week later.
It will be the first major European showpiece at the stadium since the final of Euro 2020 between England and Italy when 86 arrests were made amid chaotic scenes.
Police want United fans to travel down the M6, M42 and M40, with City set to use the M1
The match will be a repeat of last year’s final, which City won 2-1 on their way to lifting Treble
Wembley will play host to the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund a week later
Metropolitan Police superintendent Gerry Parker, the match commander for both finals this month, said: ‘We are working closely with Wembley, the FA and UEFA in preparation for the FA Cup and Champions League finals to ensure the safety of everyone attending.
‘We know the overwhelming majority of football fans at matches are law abiding and our officers will be there to deal with any supporters identified for committing offences inside and in the vicinity of the stadium.’
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