From The Guardian
Manchester United will recommend that the Stade Félix-Bollaert loses its Champions League licence unless it implements significant safety measures after the crowd problems that marred the 1-0 defeat of
United received 75 statements from supporters yesterday. The club's security officials have studied mobile-phone video footage and there is overwhelming evidence of police heavy-handedness and poor security. It is United's firm belief that the police took a dreadful risk by allowing in supporters who had black-market tickets for other areas of the Lens stadium.
It has also emerged that United had written to fans warning of "very basic" facilities and metal fences. There was only one entrance and, privately, United say they are amazed the stadium was granted a Uefa licence. Uefa will decide on possible sanctions on March 22 and United intend to submit a dossier of the fans' claims that a tragedy was only narrowly averted.
One fan, Mark Harrison, said: "One young woman fell forward and was crushed against the fence. She was crying and tried to climb over the fence. When all the other fans saw this they started to pa
Uefa's initial investigations have uncovered startling evidence about the number of United fans who travelled to Lens. The club had received 3,700 tickets but the Direction Départementale de la Sécurité Publique says that figure was swelled to 5,000. "The English fans sold counterfeit tickets and the stand reserved for them was saturated," said its spokesman.
Nine United fans were taken into custody and the DDSP defended its tactics. "We had to use the tear gas. We had to intervene. We were in opposition with uncontrolled fans." United will dispute that, but a flare was lit in the away end and they are braced for a Uefa charge.