FANS' GRIEVANCES TO BE PASSED TO UEFA

Last updated : 31 March 2005 By editor

…still it is good to see the club doing something about what happened in Milan.

The official site asked for reports into the shambolic handling of United supporters in Milan to be sent to them, and Ken Ramsden has revealed that they’ll be passed on to Uefa:

"All these emails we've since had are going to UEFA. The sheer volume demonstrates that not everybody's wrong. If they're saying the things they are in such numbers, then it's fair to say it's true.

"It's worth thanking the fans for all they've sent to us. They've reiterated what we knew and gone into some real detail - it's been very, very good. The time has come now that actions will speak louder than words. Something needs to be done and I think it will be.

"Back in January we saw the potential for people to throw from above so we raised it as an issue with the club and the police. We were told it would be addressed. We had to take their word that they would deal with that. They didn't.

"On the day they told us our fans would be kept behind for half an hour. Then on the night they were kept in for an hour and ten minutes. That offer of holding them back for 30 minutes was said at the official UEFA meeting on the morning of the game. When people tell you something face to face you have no reason not to accept it.

"When they first told us about the holdback, we immediately raised the question of transport. We were assured that if they kept the fans back then they would keep the transport on. It didn't happen.

"We've said to UEFA 'why don't you get signs put up for visiting fans?' It isn't rocket science. UEFA are saying to me that it's a good idea and they'll get on with it. Whether or not it happens next season, we'll see.

"Despite what some correspondents think, we cannot go to Milan or anywhere else and tell the police or the club how to conduct their business. If they came to Manchester and said it to us they would get short shrift.

"One correspondent says 'it's about time United started fighting the supporters' corner.' I don't think that's entirely fair. Quite honestly there is no other club in Europe who goes to greater lengths than Manchester United does to protect its fans.

"We do the best we can, but we're limited. We cannot tell foreign police forces how their operation must take place. So we advise, recommend, suggest and do all the things we can do. We put it all in writing and copy UEFA in.

"I honestly don't think there's any more we could have done than that which we did. We identify the pitfalls and dangers, as do the Greater Manchester Police, the FA and the British Consul. The fact that it's not delivered means it's now a subject for complaint.

"UEFA appointed a security delegate to the game. He submitted what is understood to be a fairly lenthy report to UEFA about match arrangements. Whilst not privy to the contents of that report it is a fairly safe bet that it won't be complimentary.

"We do expect to hear from UEFA, we do hope and expect to see some action on their part and we do expect that to become public because there's no reason to hide anything here."