Patrick Rees
After a derby match defeat, Mourinho’s men are now preparing for their very first fixture of Europa League showdown, but the joy has been cut short as the fans heading to Rotterdam have been warned to ‘dress conservatively’ following trouble with Dutch hooligans in previous years.
Earlier this month, United fans hit out at the reduced ticket allocation they are receiving for the fixture. According to the reports from ESPN, the match will be played in a reduced capacity as the Dutch club look to avoid triggering suspended punishments they were handed by UEFA for crowd trouble.
The Eredivisie side released a statement this week in which they said they would be taking various measures for their European home games this season in a bid to minimise the risk of further problems.
That includes the capacity of their De Kuip ground — usually 51,000 — being reduced to around 26,000.
A statement from the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) read:
“MUST and our travelling support are really disappointed about the reduced allocation for United supporters.
“We don’t see why our fans should be affected by the police concerns over home fans’ behaviour and choosing to reduce their capacity for the match.
“We have also made the point that reducing the away allocation for such an easily accessible game may prove counterproductive and potentially increase security risk if ticketless MUFC fans are in the vicinity of the stadium attempting to get tickets.”
The letter, reported in the Manchester Evening News, reads: “For your own safety it is advisable to maintain a low profile and avoid areas of potential conflict and by dressing conservatively.
“Once the game has ended, and Manchester United supporters are all out of the stadium, a special 1,200 seat train service will be provided from the stadium rail station. The service will stop at both Rotterdam and Amsterdam train stations.
“Please ensure that you carry your passport at all times, as required by law in the Netherlands. There is currently a general high threat level from terrorism in Europe and you should ensure that you are mindful of your own personal safety and security whilst travelling.
“Finally, we hope that you enjoy your visit to the Netherlands and thank you for your support.”
