‘But even the most cynical observer would have to be
impressed by the manner in which Sir Alex Ferguson's players
have impressed the 100,000-plus fans who have witnessed
their first two games, even if the bonhomie accompanying
their 3 -1 win over the Mexican club America at the LA
Coliseum in the early hours of yesterday was tempered by
some hooliganism.
‘Of all the events held in this stadium - two Olympics, a
couple of Super Bowls, a World Series, political rallies by
JFK - it is a safe bet officers of the LAPD south-west
division have never had to run across Figueroa Street and
from one end of the stadium to the other to prevent a riot.
‘On this occasion, the English contingent could not be
blamed. In a stadium with no crowd segregation, some
Mexicans fans were aggrieved to see Ruud van Nistelrooy and
Diego Forlan score second-half goals and began throwing
bottles, flares and other missiles at some United fans.
After an uneasy stand-off, a few Mancunians retaliated
before the police calmed things down.’