Uefa final troubles: a fan's view
Updated on 16 May 2008
Rangers fans clashed with police at this week's Uefa Cup final in Manchester, where a big screen failed minutes before kick-off. One fan gives an eyewitness account of the day's events.
Don Mclean: I drove down a minibus of 15 from Glasgow leaving at 5:30am. We arrived at the bus parking area in the cricket ground and found the organisation and staff very good and extremely helpful. Manchester had got it right at this point and I thought we were in for a good time.
They had leaflets on routes to the fan areas, free buses to take you into the city, and across the road was the light railway station. We left on the bus to the city. It was a great atmosphere.
In the city everyone was in great sprits and having good time. We made our way to Albert Square and joined the party. It was at this point I started to get concerned.
The square was packed and this was only noon. Most parties were drinking and they were selling drink in the square, but there were no food sellers to be seen.
I raised it with the stewards and the drinks area and was told that they were trying to get some food arranged.
It doesn't take a lot brains to work out that X amount of people drinking from 9am until 10pm in an enclosed area (an area that was far too small) in the heat, with no easy way to access food or water, would raise problems.
I left at about 12:30pm to have lunch and go back to the bus to have a sleep. I came back about 5:30pm and joined up with most of my party in Albert Square. It was far too crowded.
I left to go to Piccadilly. Behind me I noticed some families leaving as they were also concerned for themselves and their children.
Piccadilly was overcrowded - no one was getting in. I asked an officer outside about the situation. The screens had gone off - people were heading to the Velodrome which could hold 28,000 people.
I asked why they had not announced this over the PA system - the officer said that wasn't his job. I went back to Albert Square to find some people were leaving and the police presence was getting larger.
At one point police used their van straight at me and others to move us back. The crowd was still in good spirits and a little common sense and good policing would have moved the crowed back. It became clear that I was not getting back in.
Another supporter came back explaining that he had just gone out for food for himself and his friends (he had 15 cheeseburgers). He was told to go away, he was not getting in.
I left and went to find a pub where I could watch the match. It cost me £2 to get in and it was well worth it. At the end I made my way back to the bus. Approaching the light railway station I noticed a lot of riot police where getting ready at the station.
I made a comment to one of them: "You don't think we are that bad do you?" but it either went over his head or he just ignored me.
I got on a train packed with supporters, reached the cricket ground without any problem or seeing any trouble. The only way I knew of the trouble was via the radio, and a local person talking on the phone who was very critical of their council.
In my opinion Manchester Council got it very, very wrong, the police went in very heavy from the start, but I don't think the people who caused the incident are blameless.
Police and council view
Yesterday Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese defended the "go-lightly" policy.
He said: "Do you really think we were going to stop 100,000-plus Glaswegians wanting to have a drink? It was not possible.
"Trying to enforce that would have created a public order problem.
"Whether it was the big screen going down or a problem with alcohol the behaviour of this small minority of yobs was not acceptable. If you are going to put the blame on anyone then it has to be on these people."
The Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, Justine Curran, said police had no choice but to act against supporters who she said behaved like a "baying pack of wolves".
