Uefa is to investigate the crush of supporters and major security scare that overshadowed Manchester United's hugely controversial 1-0 win over
Riot police fired tear gas into an overcrowded section of United supporters after they tried to scale the perimeter fences to get away from the type of incident that demonstrates why metal cages are no longer allowed in
"We will be submitting a report to Uefa," said a United spokesman. "We met with Uefa officials, FA officials and the police straight after the game. We want to hear the accounts of supporters who may have been involved and we will submit that to Uefa."
Five minutes had been played when it became apparent that late arrivals had dangerously swelled the away end. There were clearly United fans being crushed and several scaled the perimeter fences, signalling frantically for help. One woman was dragged out by security stewards. Another fan ran on to the playing surface and signalled that the game should be stopped and for five terrible minutes of confusion there were scenes that were worryingly reminiscent of the early stages of the Hillsborough disaster.
Thankfully it proved to be nowhere near as serious but there were far too many supporters in the right-hand corner of the away end, with large areas of empty seats at the opposite corner, and there were reports late last night that the French police had opened the gates for United fans who had black-market tickets for other sections of the stadium.
What is beyond doubt is that the police handled a significant safety issue atrociously. The firing of tear gas did at least succeed in moving the fans away from the cages but it was an absurdly heavy-handed gesture, the only possible explanation being that the police believed the supporters were trying to get on the pitch to cause trouble. Some supporters were struck with batons.
The Stade Félix-Bollaert was one of the 1998 World Cup stadiums but the events last night will renew questions about the wisdom of having perimeter fences inside football grounds. Uefa may also be unimpressed by the fact that United fans stood in an all-seated area throughout the game, a habit which has got the club in trouble before now. A flare was lit in the second half and a disciplinary charge will almost certainly be brought against the club.
United reacted swiftly to the controversy by issuing an official statement. "After the game we met delegates from the FA, Uefa and the police to discuss the issue," a club spokesperson said.
"We will be submitting an official report to Uefa. We want to hear the accounts of supporters who may have been involved and hear their evidence, and then submit that to Uefa."
The Times
Disturbing crowd scenes in which teargas was fired at their supporters and an attempt by their French opponents seemingly to halt the match accompanied Manchester United's triumphant progress towards the Champions League quarter-finals last night.
A controversial winner by Ryan Giggs six minutes from the end of the first leg of their first knockout round tie in the Félix-Bollaert Stadium in Lens sparked a furious reaction among the Lille coaching staff, who attempted to haul their players off the pitch in protest.
In the ensuing mêlée, Gary Neville, the United captain, was struck by an object thrown from the crowd, all of which provided a fitting conclusion to a match that had already been blighted when riot police turned on United fans.
It appeared that a number of travelling supporters were wrongly allowed into the away section, sparking fears among the 5,000 or so already there that they might be crushed.
Mistaking concerns for their safety as attempts to cause trouble, riot police arrived en masse and, apparently overreacting, began firing teargas, which prompted pa