Operation FA Cup final – part two: Police to assign Manchester City and United different motorway service stations amid fears of violence after clashes following last year’s game

Rival fans will once again be directed to Wembley via separate routes as part of a major security operation to prevent any trouble during Saturday’s all-Manchester FA Cup final.

United and City are each taking around 36,000 supporters to the match and they will be told to use different motorways between Manchester and London, with petrol stations marked red and blue to avoid potential flashpoints.

Police want United fans to travel on the M6, M42 and M40, with City using the M1. However, supporters do not have to follow the advice and there were reports of clashes at Newport Pagnell Services on the M1 and Oxford Services on the M40 after City beat United 2-1 in the final last year.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the same measures will be in place on Saturday, having implemented them last year to avoid a repeat of the problems when United met City in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final.

Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson then warned of ‘absolute chaos’ before fans clashed on the highways and around the stadium, leading to 34 arrests.

Manchester City and Manchester United supporters are told to use different highways

Greater Manchester Police are keen to prevent a repeat of United’s 2011 FA Cup semi-final encounter with City, when Sir Alex Ferguson (pictured) warned of ‘absolute chaos’ – with reports of clashes also reported last year

Last year’s travel problems were exacerbated by a national rail strike, which saw a total of 160 official coaches deployed for fans. By comparison, United have only booked twelve coaches this year.

The joint operation between the Metropolitan Police, GMP and British Transport Police is likely to involve more than a thousand officers on duty around Wembley. On the advice of the police, the kick-off has already been brought forward to 3 p.m.

Authorities are determined to keep any problems to a minimum as Wembley hosts the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid a week later.

It will be the first major European showpiece at the stadium since the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy, when 86 arrests were made amid chaotic scenes.

Police want United fans to travel on the M6, M42 and M40, while City will use the M1

The match will be a repeat of last year’s final, which City won 2-1 on their way to Treble victory

A week later, Wembley will host the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund

Chief Inspector Gerry Parker of the Metropolitan Police, the match commander for both finals this month, said: ‘We are working closely with Wembley, the FA and UEFA in preparation for the FA Cup and Champions League finals to ensure the safety of all those in attendance. to guarantee.

‘We know that the vast majority of football fans at matches are law-abiding and our officers will be on hand to deal with any supporters suspected of committing offenses in and around the stadium.’