No screens for Reds match

May 15, 2008

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CLASHES between Rangers fans and police has led to Manchester's Council leader announcing that United's clash with Chelsea will not be screened in the city centre.

The chaos which followed the failure has led the council to cancel plans to show next week's Champions League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea on big screens in the city centre.

Announcing his decision NOT to screen United's clash with Chelsea next week, Coun Leese said: "We are sorry to Manchester United fans but we are very clear," he said. "It would not be fair to residents and users of the city centre."

But Sir Richard said the trouble would not weaken Manchester's commitment to holding high-profile international events.

"Over the next 10 years we plan many more and we are not going to let the behaviour of a small number of people dissuade us from a strategy that is going to be of great benefit to the city."

He said he had no idea how long the clean-up operation was going to take, but said workmen had been working through the night.

"The fact we were able to arrange a replacement screen shows we were well prepared. We had buses arranged to take people to the replacement screen and they were able to watch the match.

"The problems were caused by a small minority of fans and those fans must take responsibility for their own behaviour."

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Stretford ender, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 14:12)

Great! Because of drunken Rangers fans, we can't even see our own team play in our own city!

Don't you think it would have been fair not to put big screens for this (rubbish)game and put some up for the United one??? we would surely not destroy our own city like foreigners did!

Really disappointed.

syebod, Stockport (15/05/2008 at 14:13)

IF it was a small number why should us REAL MANCS have to suffer this is our city and your being weak. BE STRONG FOR THE CITY ! Your an embarresment we wuioldn't tear up our own city !!!! Pethetic ! I hope we never get another big event in manchester again !

StevoDevo, Bolton (15/05/2008 at 14:16)

City fan here with a tip for all rags.... get yourselves organised and threaten to descend on Manchester anyway. Tell them you'll riot en masse if they don't put the match on and waive any law that would stop you from behaving like animals for two days solid. Then, when they back down, turn up en masse anyway, drink for two days solid, p**s all over the city centre and then trash the place. It worked for the Rangers vermin, it should work for our own citizens (no pun intended!)

jomov, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 14:20)

Oh what a surprise!

Pathetic council!

Charlie_Manc, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 14:23)

How unfair! So not only have the Rangers fans left our city it a a complete state, questionned our hospitality, and made us out to be the bad guys, they have now stopped us from being free to watch Utd's match in the city of bl**dy Manchester!

What a joke!

Jiggerz, Stretford (15/05/2008 at 14:23)

Old Trafford should be hosting any screens, not the city centre, just the same as Ibrox did in Glasgow for those left behind. MCC isn't Trafford, why should they foot the bill?

Octavius Tinsworth Ace (15/05/2008 at 14:25)

Great. So because of a load of brain-dead Rangers thugs, Manchester isn't even going to cater for its own team's supporters in the biggest club match of the season. (Spare us the tiresome Trafford/Manchester pedantry, Berties.)

Thanks again, Rangers fans. Do come again.

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (15/05/2008 at 14:27)

Sorry, but people who behave like animals spoil it for the rest;where one or two spoil it then like it or not the rest HAVE TO SUFFER.

Karney for head of GMPTA(formerly MC Spanner) (15/05/2008 at 14:27)

"The decision to have screens was taken by council leader Sir Richard Leese and city centre spokesman Pat Karney, after consultation with police.

Senior council sources said the two men were heavily swayed by an unprecedented outpouring of postings from Scottish fans on our website, www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk."

Maybe if all the United fans pressure the MEN, The Pat & Dick Media show will succumb. Don't rate your chances though

whoownsthebankofengland? (15/05/2008 at 14:29)

I hope thats a joke or I may just slap Sir Richard Lees for having no common sense at all.

Marc (15/05/2008 at 14:32)

this makes no sense to me. Glasgow Rangers fans are allowed to level the city centre but Man United fans aren't?

Matt Booth, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 14:33)

I guess the council only care enough if theyre making £25M

Man u Fan (15/05/2008 at 14:36)

i am 100% for the big screens in town.

United or chelsea fans wouldn't behave like those racist rangers fans

Give us our screen MCC or their will be riots over the fact that foreigners are given president....just like the way this country is run.... foreigners get everything whilst local get nothing!

andyj18, Chorlton (15/05/2008 at 14:39)

"We are sorry to Manchester United fans but we are very clear," he said. "It would not be fair to residents and users of the city centre."

Does Richard Leese realise how idiotic this sounds in light of the last 48 hours? Where was the consideration for "residents and users" of the city centre then?

Him and Karney should resign over their handling (or lack thereof) of this fiasco.

These clowns couldn't run a bath, never mind a city.

Rachel Fiddy (15/05/2008 at 14:47)

That's a good idea, especially with the trouble last night, its about time the Rangers fans faced up to the trouble they have caused and that it is their fault that screens will not be put up for this match and maybe possibly future matches.

Reidus, Cambridge (15/05/2008 at 14:49)

to be honest if i travelled all that way to watch my team in uefa final and i waited all day in burning heat for a good view and then i couldnt see if because of a technical hitch id be very annoyed (wouldnt riot though). mix these feelings with alcohol and its no surprise what happened and i think supporters of any team would react the same.

EricaNurney, The Chatsworth Estate (15/05/2008 at 14:55)

Perhaps you could all ask Ronaldo to sulk for you to the council, he's such a pro! Failing that you could always screen it on his bottom lip.

Jimc (15/05/2008 at 14:57)

Excellent news. NOT.

SO BECAUSE OF A COUPLE OF HUNDRED BRAIN DEAD JOCKS, WE THE PEOPLE OF MANCHESTER HAVE TO SUFFER. MCC YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN DON'T YOU.

THE POLICE SHOULD HAVE STOVED A FEW MORE HEADS IN.

SO GO ON PUNISH US FOR SOMETHING WE DID NOT EVEN HAVE A HAND IN.

pete fraser (15/05/2008 at 15:06)

But Sir Richard said the trouble would not weaken Manchester's commitment to holding high-profile international events.

"Over the next 10 years we plan many more and we are not going to let the behaviour of a small number of people dissuade us from a strategy that is going to be of great benefit to the city."

With inspired nonsense like this, what makes Richard Leese assume he will be in office in ten years time ??

Jimc (15/05/2008 at 15:20)

curious george (15/05/2008 at 15:22)

Speaking as one of the city centre residents Leese thinks it "wouldn't be fair to", I reckon most people in Manchester would have been quite happy for things to be a bit disrupted by a local team playing in the European Cup final.

Having the city torn up for the sake of a Rangers game is another matter.

It seems like the priority here was the city's profile rather than the wishes of its residents.

kieron mckenna (15/05/2008 at 15:26)

what a sad man richard leese is..yet again letting real fans down. letting him self bend rules to allow traveling yobs to booze and litter the streets of manchester then not allowing residents to enjoy our own teams...people remember this when you all vote again

emma (15/05/2008 at 15:41)

The Champions League Final between United and Chelsea should be shown on big screens but with private companies running with no involvement from the bureaucratic council or the heavy handed police and then everyone would have a nice time and there would be no trouble

Invisible Man, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 16:17)

Don't worry united fans. I believe it's on in your local town at Trafalgar square. Failing that you could petition Valletta coucil...

Mark,Radcliffe. (15/05/2008 at 16:21)

Well in that case cancel all future events,until we get some people in place who are capable of seeing the jobs through.Leese and Karney you are a laughing stock and cannot be taken seriously anymore( that's if you ever were).Walk away now.

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