REVEALED: Manchester United protestors climbed over steel gates to enter Munich Tunnel and open access door to allow over a hundred fans into Old Trafford… ending rumours that a member of staff assisted break-in that forced postponement of Liverpool game
- Manchester United supporters broke into the Old Trafford Stadium on Sunday
- The fans were leading a protest against the Glazer ownership of the club
- It’s been revealed that it was United supporters who led the break-in
- There had been fears that an access door had been opened by a member of staff
- The on-pitch protests and carnage that followed led to the Premier League encounter with Liverpool being postponed
Manchester United fans who got inside the Munich Tunnel and forced open an access door were responsible for letting in more than a hundred fellow protesters during Sunday’s demonstration at Old Trafford, it has been revealed.
There have been concerns that the door was opened by a member of staff after protesters who got into the stadium and onto the pitch told Sportsmail that it was opened from within.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust also raised the issue in a statement on Sunday, saying: ‘Whilst the invasion of the stadium isn’t something we expected – and it is rumoured a gate was opened for fans – even if that is not the case we believe the vast majority of Manchester United staff are sympathetic with the views of the fans.’
Manchester United supporters furiously protested against the club’s ownership of the Glazer family before their side’s game against Liverpool on Sunday
Shocking scenes saw fans pour onto the pitch at Old Trafford after breaking into the ground
Protesting against the Glazers, fans grabbed corner flags and match balls during the carnage
However, it has now emerged that a number of fans were able to climb over the steel gates guarding the Munich Tunnel.
Some confronted stewards in front of the directors’ entrance but others forced open a separate access door and then doubled back to let in more protesters gathered outside.
More than a hundred flooded into Old Trafford and accessed the pitch, either through the disabled section or by sliding down the tarpaulin sheets covering the empty seats.
A yellow flare was thrown though a window as police look on from inside the stadium
The protests continued outside of Old Trafford as flares and marches surrounded the ground
Police battle with United protesters as red steel barriers are thrown into the air
They took the match balls and corner flags that had been set out for the Premier League game against Liverpool, threw a flare at the Sky Sports gantry – where pundits Roy Keane, Graeme Souness, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards were on air – and wrecked a TV camera by the side of the pitch.
Staff inside the ground were told to take refuge in offices with locked doors for their own safety until the pitch was cleared.
A second break-in occurred shortly afterwards when fans kicked in a glass entrance to the disabled lift access and got back on the pitch.
The game was eventually called off following the breach of security and clashes outside Old Trafford which left two policemen injured.
The protests led to the postponement of the Premier League fixture against Liverpool
Flares were also let off inside Old Trafford, where a second break-in happened shortly after
