Security fear over Manchester League Cup ties

Last updated : 04 September 2009 By editor

From the Times

'Manchester United and Manchester City were at the centre of security fears last night over the scheduling of their Carling Cup third-round matches.

'United are due to play at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 23, the same night as City play host to Fulham in the competition.

'But with the matches coming only three days after the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) want the games to be played on different days as a safety precaution given that emotions may still be running high.

'City are understood to have offered to play their tie on Thursday given that they do not face West Ham United in the Barclays Premier League until the Monday after, only for the suggestion to be rejected by Fulham because it would have left Roy Hodgson's team with less than two days to prepare for their league game against Arsenal at Craven Cottage.

'Police officials were happy for the teams to play at home on the same night last December, when United entertained Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup quarter-finals while City took on Paris Saint-Germain in the Uefa Cup — the first time that had happened for 11½ years — but they consider this to be a higher-risk situation.'