Manchester United fans are fuming that hundreds of Galatasaray supporters watched Tuesday night’s Champions League game in ‘home’ sections of the stadium and that a huge banner celebrating the history of the club was ripped down.
There were huge cheers loudly from followers of the Turkish club when a sign reading ‘There is nothing on earth like being a Red’ was ripped from the second tier of the East Stand.
It capped a problematic night at Old Trafford with large numbers of Galatasaray fans dotted throughout the stadium in addition to the official away end where they have been allocated nearly two thousand tickets.
Many UK-based supporters of the Istanbul club were able to purchase £400 packages for the game without having to prove their club allegiances.
Traditional United fans are angered by what they regard as the disrespect shown by the Gala fans delighting in a 3-2 win which raises security concerns for other big European nights to come.
Galatasaray supporters tore down part of a the banner ‘There is nothing on earth like being a Red’ from second tier of the East Stand at Old Trafford after accessing the home end
Questions were raised over how fans could dismantle the banner without intervention
Flares were let off by visiting supporters in the K Stand which traditionally houses United fans
Yellow and red smoke flares were let off by visiting supporters in the K Stand which traditionally houses United fans and led to tension between the two groups.
Some United fans warned of more hostile retaliation if they have to mingle with rival supporters again.
‘United fans need to fight for United and make opposing fans afraid of coming here,’ said one message on social media reflecting the mood of more hardcore element of the home support.
There were also questions about how Turkish fans in the second tier were allowed to dismantle the ‘Red’ banner without intervention from stewards.
United said they ban selling tickets in home areas to supporters with Turkish addresses but Galatasaray also enjoy widespread support in England among an estimated 500,000 Turkish expatriates who live here.
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