MAN UNITED, AFC BOURNEMOUTH
(match abandoned)
Manchester United’s final Barclays Premier League game on the season was abandoned without a ball being kicked after a suspect package was found inside the north west quadrant at Old Trafford.
An announcement was made at 3.16pm that the game had been called off on the advice of police who were dealing with the incident and it was later revealed by Greater Manchester Police on Twitter a controlled explosion had taken place at around 4.30pm.
Just under two hours earlier an “operation red code” alert had been heard over the tannoy and the players who were warming up had left the field.
Fans were then advised that because of “the discovery of a suspect package in the north-west quadrant of the ground, the match had been abandoned for today on police advice”.
Supporters who were still in the ground in the Sir Bobby Charlton and East Stands were advised to stay in their seats while the forecourt was cleared of fans who had been in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and Stretford End that were evacuated.
Police with sniffer dogs checked out the package and at 3.16pm came the announcement the game had been called off.
While the evacuation was occurring Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had spoken to Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore about the game being called off, BBC Sport’s football correspondent Phil McNulty revealed.
The Premier League has announced it is looking to rearrange the match as soon as possible.
“The game will definitely need to be played but there are logistical issues that need to be resolved,” a statement read.
“However, they cannot even start to begin discussing them until the police have done what they need to do here (at Old Trafford).”
Speaking before the controlled explosion was carried out, assistant chief constable John O’Hare, of Greater Manchester Police, said their priority “was to ensure the safety of everyone in the stadium and surrounding area”.
He said “military colleagues” were assisting with the incident, adding: “We don’t make these decisions lightly and we have done this today (abandoned the match) to ensure the safety of all those attending.”
United players were seen leaving the ground shortly after 4.30pm. BBC commentator Conor McNamara said he saw Bournemouth players and staff boarding their team bus outside Old Trafford around an hour later.
The club later confirmed they would be flying back to Bournemouth on Sunday night.
Sean Bones, vice-chairman of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, said: “It is obviously a dark day in Premier League history. We have obviously got to give our thanks to the club and the authorities for getting supporters out of the ground safely and home to their families.
“If it turns out there was a bomb at Old Trafford it is obviously a concern that we have these type of people in our midst and it is going to have a huge effect on security at football matches in the future.”
The last time a game at Old Trafford was called off was in 2004 when a pre-season game against Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds was abandoned before kick off due to an electrical storm with lightning striking the roof of the south stand.