SCOUSE BOYCOTT

Hundreds of Manchester United football fans are planning to boycott next month's Worthington Cup Final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in a row over disabled facilities.

The 1,000-strong Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association (Mudsa) has organised the protest at the game against Liverpool, claiming wheelchair users have a poor view of the pitch.

The Millennium Stadium's 300 wheelchair seats are situated behind regular seating.

There are permanent 'Do Not Stand Up' signs fixed to the seats immediately in front of the disabled areas and stewards are told to make sure people using them remain seated.

But Mudsa claims that during exciting periods of games, fans stand up, obscuring the view of those in wheelchairs.

The organisation has written to the Football League to try to get a temporary platform for wheelchair users installed at the front of the lower tier close to the pitch.

Millennium Stadium managers have agreed to put platforms in the existing disabled areas to raise the sight line for wheelchair users.

But Mudsa secretary Phil Downs said it would not solve the problem.

"We did boycott the Charity Shield the last time we were involved because of the view and had expected something would have been done about it," he said.

"It is just a question of us trying to persuade the powers that be to put in a temporary platform for us to provide us with an unobstructed view of the pitch.''

Mr Downs said the disabled facilities at Cardiff compared unfavourably with the 104 places available for wheelchair users at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.

A spokesman for the Millennium Stadium defended the venue.

"The disabled facilities were designed in conjunction with disability group experts," he said.

"The facilities and sight lines are second to none.

"However, we are aware that, when people jump with excitement, they can mask the view of some wheelchair supporters.

"To that end we are placing platforms in these areas to raise the sight line," he added.