A controlled explosion was carried out on a suspect package inside Manchester United's stadium on Sunday and the club's Premier League match against Bournemouth was abandoned.
Two of the Old Trafford stands were evacuated about 20 minutes before the scheduled kickoff at 1400 GMT. Soon after, the game was called off and the whole stadium cleared.
Police investigated the package and used sniffer dogs to search the area, before calling in an army bomb disposal unit. "A controlled explosion has just been carried out within the stadium by bomb disposal experts at Old Trafford," Greater Manchester Police said later on Twitter.
The club said in a statement on its website the package had been found in the North West Quadrant, and the match abandoned on police advice.
TV footage showed fire engines arriving at the stadium.
"We don't make these decisions lightly and we have done this today to ensure the safety of all those attending," Assistant Chief Constable John O'Hare said in a statement.
United cannot qualify for next season's Champions League, after Manchester City drew at Swansea City on Sunday. They are sixth in the Premier League table and would move above Southampton into fifth with a draw or victory against Bournemouth.
They play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday and it is not clear when a rescheduled game against Bournemouth will be played.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the Premier League said it would seek to rearrange the fixture "as soon as practically possible".
"When it comes to matters of security it is obviously right that Manchester United and the Premier League place the safety of supporters and employees foremost," it said.
"It is always the last resort to abandon one of our fixtures."
Two of the Old Trafford stands were evacuated about 20 minutes before the scheduled kickoff at 1400 GMT. Soon after, the game was called off and the whole stadium cleared.
Police investigated the package and used sniffer dogs to search the area, before calling in an army bomb disposal unit. "A controlled explosion has just been carried out within the stadium by bomb disposal experts at Old Trafford," Greater Manchester Police said later on Twitter.
The club said in a statement on its website the package had been found in the North West Quadrant, and the match abandoned on police advice.
TV footage showed fire engines arriving at the stadium.
"We don't make these decisions lightly and we have done this today to ensure the safety of all those attending," Assistant Chief Constable John O'Hare said in a statement.
United cannot qualify for next season's Champions League, after Manchester City drew at Swansea City on Sunday. They are sixth in the Premier League table and would move above Southampton into fifth with a draw or victory against Bournemouth.
They play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday and it is not clear when a rescheduled game against Bournemouth will be played.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the Premier League said it would seek to rearrange the fixture "as soon as practically possible".
"When it comes to matters of security it is obviously right that Manchester United and the Premier League place the safety of supporters and employees foremost," it said.
"It is always the last resort to abandon one of our fixtures."
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%