A MAJOR row has broken out between two neighbouring councils over plans to hold a victory parade for Manchester United if they win the Champions League Final.
Trafford council issued a statement saying there would be no parade immediately after the club returns from the final.
It follows violent clashes in Manchester between Rangers' fans and the police following Wednesday's Uefa Cup Final.
And it came as the Manchester Evening News Arena stepped in to show the Champions League final after plans for open-air screenings were scrapped due to the clashes, which led to more than 40 arrests.
Trafford council's statement said they were working with Manchester council, the club and Greater Manchester Police and a parade could be held during the summer. But Manchester council said they had not authorised the statement. By tradition the parade has gone through both council areas.
Logistics
A spokesman for Trafford said: "Manchester City Council, Trafford council and Manchester United are working with Greater Manchester Police to identify suitable opportunities given the necessary logistical demands to ensure security and safety to appropriately celebrate United's achievements this season.
"There will not be a parade immediately following the Uefa final next week but details are being discussed to organise an event which may take place during the summer."
But Manchester Council bosses said it would be a decision for the club and GMP.
A spokesman said: "The statement was issued without our approval. The city council has not made a decision on a parade.
"We have met with police and made it quite clear this is a decision for Manchester United and GMP."
The Arena - sponsored by the M.E.N. but owned and managed by SMG Europe - has now said it will broadcast the Manchester United-Chelsea clash live from Moscow on a special screen on Wednesday.
Some 7,000 tickets for the Arena event will go on sale at £10 each from noon today.
Up to 200,000 of the Scottish clubs' fans descended on Manchester for the Uefa cup final at the City of Manchester stadium, when Rangers lost 2-0 to Russian side Zenit St Petersburg. A huge screen put up at Piccadilly Gardens failed ahead of kick-off - sparking violent clashes between fans and police.
Campaign
The M.E.N. is leading the campaign for the council to reconsider and put on free screenings of the United-Chelsea match on Wednesday.
Salford council and the Trafford Centre have both been told by police NOT to show the match for public safety reasons. Manchester United said it was too late to arrange an event an Old Trafford - and claimed they thought the city council was going to put up screens. And Lancashire County Cricket Club said it would have considered showing the match were it not for the England-New Zealand test match starting on Thursday.
The M.E.N. Arena will open it doors at 5.30pm and have pre-match entertainment leading up to the 7.45pm kick-off.
Tickets will be limited to six per person and are only available in advance. No flags, `oversize' banners or air horns will be allowed, and under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of the city council, said: "We are delighted that the M.E.N. Arena is able to show the match on a big screen and we are convinced that fans will be well behaved."
What do you think? Have your say.
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Reds parade: Councils row
May 17, 2008
VICTORY SALUTE United players wave to the fans from their open top bus after the European Cup Final win in 1999
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Rangers 9 (17/05/2008 at 11:10)
Mark, South Manchester (17/05/2008 at 11:16)
In fact if this supposedly "Manchester"club had helped out Manchester on Wednesday night by offering to put up big screens at OT, then we wouldn't have seen the chaos in the city centre and Manchester's reputation for putting on big events wouldn't be now in tatters!!
Tameside Blue, Tameside (17/05/2008 at 11:20)
They'll be banning hen nights next
Danny The Red, Prestwich (17/05/2008 at 11:24)
kilrush (17/05/2008 at 11:29)
Audenshaw Bob (17/05/2008 at 11:31)
Will the mardi gras be banned?
Also if they celebrate a United victory in two months then the euphoria will have died down. Players that played in the final might be a different clubs.
Ricahrd Leese said that Wednesady would not stop Manchester carrying on as normal. Then he punishes the people of Manchester again.
blueboy (17/05/2008 at 11:54)
Paul B. Eccles, Leicester (17/05/2008 at 11:58)
Later as we travelled back into the city centre, our bus was literally rocking as Rangers fans stampeded on the upper deck. There was violence in those days and the later generations of Rangers fans continued their blitz on Manchester.
I put the blame fair and squarely on a council that ‘invited’ the 'fans' and laid on facilities for the invading blue army.
The cost? Thousands of pounds to clean up the mess. No celebration for United fans. Some very ‘hurt’ police men and women. What a shambles.
Paul B. Eccles, Leicester (17/05/2008 at 12:02)
The fault did not lie with old Trafford not putting up screens for the 'fans' from Scotland.
The fault lay in encouraging them to come to Manchester in the first place. Rangers fans will never change.
Maynard Kitchener Lampwick, Manchester (17/05/2008 at 12:04)
We pay our Taxes, so give us something back WE WANT.
Mark,Radcliffe. (17/05/2008 at 12:50)
Old Blue Eyes (17/05/2008 at 12:53)
Not to mention Cork, Dublin etc etc.....
Teresa20, Norwich (17/05/2008 at 13:03)
Born Blue, Die Blue, Middleton (17/05/2008 at 13:03)
Stop punishing the innocent, typical of MCC, knee jerk reaction, why dont Trafford & Salford councils arrange a parade without encrouching into Manchester council land, is that possible?
Hopefully no victory parade will be required (bit of bitterness there) but as a football supporter I hope common sense prevails, dont let the events of Wednesday spoil it for the United fans.
Frank K (17/05/2008 at 13:04)
Rugbygirl, Urmston (17/05/2008 at 13:15)
Old Blue Eyes (17/05/2008 at 13:43)
S Tockport, near the window (17/05/2008 at 13:50)
It won't matter too much next week about a parade when its raining and Chelski have won.
Prediction for today Stockport 2 Wycombe 1
Its forever being beautiful and the colours white and blue
Alan WBB, Manchester (17/05/2008 at 13:57)
It was far from peaceful. The bar was wrecked.
After the Rangers trouble and the trouble at the England game the council would be wise to make any club show games on a big screen or hold any celebrations inside their own ground.
Mr T (17/05/2008 at 14:24)
Most United fans will be locals, they wont be sleeping in shop doorways, lugging crates of beer about. Most would have been in work all day and would be out to watch the game in a civilised manner. It will not require the police manpower or cleanup operation that Rangers fans brought with them. Look at 1999, this passed of peaceful. If Manchester City council are treating its voters and council tax payers in this manner, comparing them with the invasion from Scotland, then i suggest that these key councillor resign.
The screens and parade must stay.
Paul Hill (17/05/2008 at 14:30)
Maynard Kitchener Lampwick, Manchester (17/05/2008 at 14:31)
Sir Richard Leese was on Tele the other Night saying, Manchester is a Welcome City, if it is a Welcome City, Then Welcome the Premiership Trophy and Maybe a European Cup.
As Jim Royle Would Say, Welcome My A*S*.
Lets Hope Trafford Borough say, give United a Parade from Altrincham to Old Trafford Ground and lets proove Manchester wrong.
Steve Pottage (17/05/2008 at 14:34)
tedk, droylsden (17/05/2008 at 15:35)
adders, Withington (17/05/2008 at 17:42)
I`m not a Utd supporter but to me this ban smacks of over-reaction and failure to take responsibility. What next? Too many bans these days, too many decent law-abiding people have to suffer and sometimes go without, thanks to a very small minority and officials who don`t seem to have the nous to organize things so that things are run safely.
If Utd win in Moscow, though I hate to admit this as a Blue, it brings prestige to Manchester. Banning a parade? Oh come on, why don`t we all stay home all the time and never do anything, never have any organized events at all. Sad attitude. Oppressive times we are living in when the few can ruin happy events for the many.