Lille point finger at United
By Tom Adams - Created on 22 Feb 2007
Lille director general Xavier Thuilot has hinted that Manchester
United should be thrown out of the UEFA Champions League following
the worrying crowd scenes that accompanied their clash on Tuesday
night.
Uefa has already launched an investigation into the events that saw
the United end of the ground apparently suffer from overcrowding in
a stormy 1-0 win for the English side.
French police sprayed tear gas at the away crowd after some
supporters attempted to scale perimeter fencing, and it has been
reported that 5,000 fans were in a section of terracing designed to
hold 3,500.
Uefa will discuss the issue on 22nd March after investigating
'possible violations of binding Uefa safety and security
instructions by the host club, as well as the alleged improper
conduct of both sets of supporters'.
United are planning to submit their own report to Uefa after
consulting fans that were present at Stade Felix-Bollaert - some of
whom have complained of heavy-handed policing - but Lille have now
pointed the finger at their English counterparts.
Thuilot has claimed that the actions of some United fans were in a
similar vein to those Feyenoord supporters who resulted in their
team being expelled from the Uefa Cup following trouble in a game
against Nancy.
"Uefa gave the green light to our security measures on the morning
of the match so if they punish us they are in effect punishing
themselves," Thuilot told a press conference.
"Manchester United are imposing their own brand of the law to Lille
football club, to the Felix-Bollaert stadium and to Uefa.
"There was a real will on their part to impose their side of the
story right from the full-time whistle because the club knows
what's at stake following incidents involving their
supporters.
"It's up to Uefa to rule on the issue, but we are clearly in the
same category as Feyenoord."
Thuilot also blamed United's early release of match tickets for a
number of forgeries, leading to alleged overcrowding in the away
end.
"We sent their quota of places to Manchester several weeks ago, as
is the usual thing to do.
"But the English club, instead of distributing the tickets to their
supporters on their arrival at the stadium (or) on their descent
from the bus, sent them out a month ago.
"The result - some very good forgeries, which have allowed some
supporters to enter the stand reserved for them. All the forged
tickets on the night were Manchester United tickets."
United have quickly rejected such accusations, replying: "Tickets
were distributed by recorded delivery 11 days before the game or
for collection from February 1.
"We would normally send out tickets for our home games at Old
Trafford six weeks before the match and we have no problems with
forgeries."
