MANCHESTER UNITED risk having their stadium’s capacity reduced by a government body, according to reports.
The Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) have the power to close parts of Old Trafford.
It comes after the SGSA have warned United to clamp down on “persistent standing” inside the Theatre of Dreams.
Footage emerged online after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton of stewards taking photographs of fans who were standing up.
The group has outlined its concerns with the number of fans standing in certain parts of the ground, including the Stretford End.
Standing is only permitted in designated areas with barriers or rails to keep fans safe, as long as certain criteria are met.
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United claim that they’ve never had any recorded injuries from fans standing.
According to The Mail, it is understood they have been left surprised by the mid-season pressure from the SGSA.
The Red Devils have effectively been forced to take stronger action to risk having the capacity reduced.
But there is no suggestion that tipping point has been reached.
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The club have also successfully rolled out safe-standing in several sections of Old Trafford.
And rail seating now accounts for more than 10 per cent of the stadium.
United first introduced safe standing in January 2022, when the stadium was one of five chosen for a trial period.
They received government approval following a series of trials.
Ruben Amorim and his players are back in action on Thursday when they face Rangers in the Europa League.
Meanwhile United took a major step forward in their discussions surrounding the future of Old Trafford.
A Task Force, set up by minority owner Jim Ratcliffe last March, announced that they have “completed their initial feasibility work into options for a new or redeveloped stadium.”
They determined that a redeveloped Old Trafford could increase the capacity of the existing ground, which has stood in place since 1910, from 74,000 to 87,000,
But a new-build stadium, which would cost around £2billion, would allow capacity to reach 100,000.
Paul Scholes reacts to Man Utd ticket price hike
How can you ask Manchester United fans to pay more money with what is on the football pitch?
£66 for a ticket is ridiculous. If you think of Manchester, there are so many deprived areas.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe himself is from Failsworth, which is a deprived area.
If you take one kid with you, that is £120, if you take a family, you are looking at £300-400 – it is just not right.
Where do these owners get the front to put ticket prices up?
For the value – we’re probably having our worst ever Premier League season and they’ve got the cheek to put the prices up.
There is nothing positive happening with that football club. The team look bang average. They are not doing anything for fans.
If we have got Sir Jim Ratcliffe, compared to all these American owners, who has been a United fan since growing up in an area in Manchester – he is still hiking prices up.
It just shows that they don’t care.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
