UEFA charge Manchester United and Liverpool for fan violence

Flares were lit up by the away fans last night

UEFA have decided to penalize both Liverpool and Manchester United after the incidents that took place yesterday during the second leg of the Europa League tie at Old Trafford. Both sets of fans were involved in misconduct and violence in the stands.

There were several crowd disturbances with objects being hurled between both sets of fans. There were flares that were lit up in the stadium by the Liverpool fans just before half time when Coutinho scored the equalizer.

The police arrested five men of which two were suspicioned of assault and one was caught lighting up a flare. There was violence between both sets of fans which led to Police escorting several of them out of the stadium and into the trains.

According to the official UEFA guidelines, the host club is responsible for all security measures and maintaining order in and around the stadium. This is the official UEFA statement on ground security:

All clubs may be subject to disciplinary measures for “inappropriate behaviour on the part of their supporters” including the throwing of objects, the lighting of fireworks or any other objects and “any other lack of order or discipline observed inside or around the stadium”. 

Insulting Banner directed towards Liverpool fans hung on Motorway 

Liverpool vs Manchester United is always a tense affair and there was already nervous energy in the air before the game last night. The away fans were greeted with an offensive banner put up by United supporters on the M602 motorway that read out ‘ Murderer’.

The banner was a reference to the tragic Hillsborough incident that occurred  several years ago which has remained a scarring and sad memory for the club. The banner was taken down by the police before the match had begun but it was a sign of things to come.

There was also a similar incident in the first leg at Anfield where the United fans sang offensive chants about the disaster during the match. The club though, avoided being sanctioned by UEFA since the incident was not mentioned in the report by the match officials..

Liverpool progress to the quarter-finals

Liverpool knocked out Manchester United from the Europa League last night after Phillipe Coutinho cancelled out Martial’s penalty in the first half. The Brazilian scored a wonderful goal, initially ghosting past Varela on the left and then dinking it wonderfully over De Gea from a tight angle.

That goal meant United had to score three goals in the second half which was always going to be a huge task. De Gea made a few more saves towards the end of the second half as the Red Devils went out 3-1 on aggregate.