Fears of a mass invasion of Rangers fans for next week’s clash with United look to be wide of the mark – with the Glasgow club failing to sell all its tickets.
The Scottish outfit were given 3,700 seats for the high-profile encounter at Old Trafford.
But the M.E.N can reveal that HUNDREDS remained unsold yesterday, with just three days until Tuesday’s Champions League clash.
That news will come as a shock because tickets for the so-called ‘Battle of Britain’ were expected to sell quickly north of the border.
Greater Manchester Police launched a massive security operation ahead of the match after Rangers fans rioted on their last visit to the city in 2008 for the Uefa Cup Final.
Piccadilly Gardens was turned into a battleground as hundreds went on the rampage when a screen showing the match broke down before kick- off.
On that occasion more than 100,000 ticket-less fans flocked to Manchester for the match.
Rangers officials admitted they had failed to sell their ticket allocation for Tuesday’s tie – but would not confirm how many were still going spare.
However, a source told the M.E.N a ‘substantial percentage’ were unsold. David Edgar, of the Rangers Supporters Trust, said many fans had not bought tickets because they feared they might be ‘a target for retribution’.
He said: “It’s nothing to do with the people of Manchester who were nothing but friendly.
“There is a lot of resentment up here towards GMP, who we think fibbed their way out of what happened in 2008. And to get on a long bus journey to be corralled, surrounded by stewards and police, to have to watch what you are saying, it’s just not an attractive proposition.
“Rangers fans are realists. We’re not going to win so we would be better off spending our money on going to the Valencia game.”
Police have so far received no intelligence to suggest thousands of fans will travel down from Scotland without tickets.
Rangers supporters who do come to Manchester will be subject to a large-scale security operation.
Tickets will only be given to supporters when they board coaches from a holding area at Wigan’s DW Stadium on the day of the match. And some 250 extra police officers have been drafted in to ensure there is no trouble. Alcohol exclusion zones will be set up and a record number of staff will be monitoring events on city centre CCTV cameras.
mike.keegan@men-news.co.uk
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Be afraid gers very afraid
Even away fans aint bothered about going to the Theatre of Debt.............LOL
as usual the pathetic GMP go overboard, last time was a eurp cup final, no a mickey mouse group game
Screen failed or was turned off? big difference!
They shouldn't ever be allowed out of Scotland. Tesco will be disappointed they can't cash in on the alcohol sales again
Good, the less of them down here again, the better.
Nevermind Rangers fans not selling out....... how many home tickets are still on open sale?
Remember the typical cry of local reds ''would love to go, just can't get a ticket mate....''
Ha!!
Probably cannot afford paying so much to see their team loose. Especially traipsing home after spending all that money.
ALFIEBOY, GRAVESEND
Can you read? Or do long words make your brain hurt? The number of away tickets being sold has nothing to do with MUFC. They could easily fill Old Trafford to capacity with home fans. Can the team you support from your armchair do that? Maybe they're not coming because of the huge police operation to prevent a repeat of two years ago. Or because they know they'll get beat. Hopefully we won't have to waste our council tax cleaning up after them again.
After their last visit to Manchester I suspect they are too ashamed to show their booze infested faces
"the braveheart"
“There is a lot of resentment up here towards GMP, who we think fibbed their way out of what happened in 2008. And to get on a long bus journey to be corralled, surrounded by stewards and police, to have to watch what you are saying, it’s just not an attractive proposition.
“Rangers fans are realists. We’re not going to win so we would be better off spending our money on going to the Valencia game.”
- Take it this guy knows nothing about the Guardia Civil then?
this as been a over hyped story since the game was arranged, everybody having there say, as if there was ever a chance 100,000 fans would descend on manchester! wonder if the gmp overtime will be cancelled now?
m6 guvnor (12/09/2010 at 20:28)
" who do think u are.. "
Sez the wannabe 'Guvnor' ycmiu
We never sold the full allocation of tickets because Rangers are only giving tickets to travel club members. We would sell out 4k at old trafford easily. Keep up the ignorant comments - we may be skint but we have a solid group of players who are winners and play well as a unit. No matter what happens down in Manchester - we will be ready for the "red devils" in Glasgow. WATP
Firstly I would like to say I's a Rangers fan and proud :-)
The only reason why Rangers didnt sell the 3700 tickets is because Rangers only gave travel club members the opportunity to go - 2900 of them. No other fans including season ticket holders were invited to apply for tickets - we could sell out your enitire ground for this game!
I am quietly optimistic about tomorrows match, I think if we can keep solid for the first 20 mins we could start to frustrate the crowd. With Kenny Miller in the form of his life you never know what might happen. Also - the walter Smith v Sir Alex element will only spur our players on. One thing is for sure - if Utd are underestimating us then we can punish them. We have beaten better sides than Utd before - it wasnt long ago Celtic beat Utd !!!
Anyway uz have to come to our place and we will be ready for Utd this time around.
Ranger til we die.
WATP
you will be ready for utd this time,like you didnt expect anybody to come last time or just didnt fancy it
hope the rangers fans trash old trafford
lets get real here,rangers have sold there tickets,i as one and all my mates are dying to go to the game but cant get ticket,give us 20,000 tickets and we will full it,we took 20,000 to barcelona and an english reporter told me this is the biggest away support ever in european footballnhistory outwith final/........................no surrender