Cricket chiefs at Old Trafford have ruled out screening England's football World Cup clash against Germany during this weekend's one day international cricket match against Australia.
The failure of Fabio Capello's team to finish top of their group means that England will play their next game against Germany at 3pm on Sunday - right in the middle of the cricket match.
Some fans had called on Old Trafford to call a two-hour break in the cricket so that they can watch the football on screens at the stadium.
The one day international is a 22,000 sell-out and it was feared that many supporters may be drawn away by the England v Germany football tie.
But after officials from Lancashire, England and Australia cricket boards held talks this morning, it was decided not to screen the football match at Old Trafford.
A statement said: "Following detailed discussions between the Club and relevant local authorities, it will not be possible for the England v Germany World Cup match to be screened in public areas at Old Trafford on Sunday due to safety reasons.
"Every option has been explored, including the installation of large screens, but due to a number of crowd-safety factors, in particular because of the 22,500 sell-out crowd, it is simply not possible for the football to be shown.
"However, if any cricket spectators do wish to leave the stadium, hopefully in order to see England’s footballers progress to the World Cup quarter-finals, their tickets will allow them to be scanned out and back in again at Old Trafford to watch England’s cricketers in action against Australia in the NatWest One Day International."
The 50-over one day internationl cricket match starts at 10.45 am and would usually run until around 6pm, assuming that neither side is bowled out swiftly.
If England's football team had won Group C, they would have played their next game on Saturday evening, but a last minute goal by the USA meant they finished second on goal difference and they were pitched into a different half of the World Cup draw.
Their game against Germany is at 3pm on Sunday and if England win, they will play a quarter final against either Argentina or Mexico at 3pm on Saturday July 3.
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I thought cricket fans were too snooty for 'soccer' surely they would prefer to watch rounders for men rather than watch the working classes playing tribal war games with a bag of air.
p.s Beware Tesco's are to build a superstore next to the new stand taking valuable business away from local traders
They managed to do this quite successfully at the 2002 sri lanka test. Fans who went into the carpark for the big screen where treated to a three nil tharashing of the Danes. I even got to have a footy / cricket chat with Phil Tuffnell!
What's the problem? The tickets have been sold. They've got their money. Why should the organisers of this match worry if thousands leave to watch the football or don't even bother turning up at all?
If I'd bought a ticket to a sporting event and the organisers chose to interrupt it for 2 hours to show another event on giant TVs I'd demand a refund.
[quote name=james cromley, stockport]I thought cricket fans were too snooty for 'soccer' surely they would prefer to watch rounders for men rather than watch the working classes playing tribal war games with a bag of air.
p.s Beware Tesco's are to build a superstore next to the new stand taking valuable business away from local traders[/quote]
Would you like any salt & vinegar for that chip on your shoulder?
Get a grip James C!
I am a LCCC member and a MCFC season ticket holder, snooty moi!
...Snooty moi!
Play a two T20s, one at 11 till 2 and one at 5:30 after england have lost on penalties. Problem solved.
P.S. Can't wait to get the Ashes in 2013 and buy my lunch from Tesco!
Yes but we stand a chance of winning at cricket unlike the three legged multimillionaire donkeys out there in South Africa.
Lack of floodlights shouldn't be a problem, Sunday's one of the longest days of the year anyway!!
SKY TV must be concerned about the clash as viewers will be switching off SKY to watch the football in droves, so hopefully they'll support the 2 hours interruption - which makes more sense in the ground anyway cos you'll be able to stay in your seat.
It would be such a fantastic gesture by cricket to England football fans.
OT will be happy cos they get an extra 2 hours catering/bar income.
And finally, the England cricketers get to support their football team. Oops, sorry, I forgot South Africa had already been knocked out
[quote name=Glenn Lewis]Would you like any salt & vinegar for that chip on your shoulder?[/quote]
Any real football fan would have had the dates in his diary for the world cup before buying tickets for a one day beer session so if the members decide not to screen the game the end of the cricket will probably be watched Lord Charles 'Charlie' Frodsham, Lady Marjorie Myers-Falstaff and their dog Glenda
p.s you don't have to have a chip on your shoulder to realise that cricket is still an elitist sport (although I will concede that some players now have regional accents) . Until it is played regularly in local authority schools and not just in private schools or local fee charging clubs the average kid will be a stranger to cricket. That's why the Aussie's have a much better history of achievement in the game.
The donkeys will be wishing that they had been at Old Trafford after their performance. You watch and mark my words.
Sorry I don't know OT that well but will the car park hold 10,000 fans? It would be a quite surreal atmosphere at the cricket with cheers and groans coming from the football fans, which given extra time could go on for nearly three hours
Call a 2 hour break? Don't be daft. The people who want to watch the cricket will be there come what may. The big screen is the best idea.
if you have 3gs on your iphone you can watch the game live on that word will get about i'm sure!
It doesn't help that at the height of summer, which is the middle of the cricket season, our state schools close for 6-7 weeks, hence depriving pupils of playing cricket when the weather is at its fairest.
Oh no, our national media "Moaning Minnie" cricket pundits are due back up here on Sunday, are they. Well apart from the "Manchester" weather & state of the ground, they've now got something else to "whinge & slag us off about" haven't they?
Whatever happened to the 'can do' attitude, now it's 'can't do' almost by default due to 'safety reasons'. Somebody please start treating us like adults.
What's the sense of creating a situation where '000s of people leave to watch the football (cos they will!) and try to get into local pubs packed already. I can just picture the frustration and anger when they're refused entry. Aren't these the 'Safety reasons' that should be considered?
I am going to this game but will be leaving to watch the World Cup match can anyone direct me to a likely venue to watch the game?
BTW to the person who said that we should have known better than to double book these tickets were booked long before England qualified so no chance of pre planning.
Also my suggestion would be to show the second half (and extra time if required) inside the ground. They also have a load of TV around the ground in the bars etc...will these be showing the game?
ta
Where is the best place to watch the game around old trafford?
Also are they showing it on the TV in the bars around the ground?
Also would it be an idea to show the second half (and penalties)
Ignore that Cromley, often talks drivel on the City site. Think he's lonely.
Anyway, its going to be superb. I'll be watching the cricket till 2.30. Get a taxi back to Manchester to watch the game, and taxi back to Stretford in time for the finale.
Monday is going to hurt.
Weatherspoons next Uniteds Ground Chester Rd.
Maybe they should just march everybody across Chester Road to the football ground so they can watch it there...
I think it's short-sighted and parochial. The place will empty for 2 hours.