Champions League: Mystery soccer fan: How I pulled team photo stunt

A football fan who tricked his way into Manchester United's official team photo has claimed it was the best football sting ever.

Karl Power, 33, sneaked past security and joined the bewildered stars in the line-up before their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

The father-of-one said he had planned Wednesday night's stunt with friends for two years as if it was a "military campaign".

The unemployed labourer said that defender Gary Neville tried to "grass him up" as he ran on to the pitch at Munich's Olympic Stadium.

"He knew exactly what was going on and started waving his finger at me and telling me to get the hell out of it," said Power, from Droylsden, Manchester.

"But I just opened my mouth and yelled, 'I'm doing this for Eric Cantona - now shut it!'. I was as surprised as anyone when he did."

The prankster said he accidentally took striker Andy Cole's position and the player had to muscle him out of his spot in the picture.

Captain Roy Keane glowered at him and Power, nicknamed Fat Neck by friends, feared he would have "taken it a step further" than Neville.

But United star Dwight Yorke gave him an "incredible" smile which gave him the confidence to stay until the photographers had finished, he claimed.

He then ran off, put his tracksuit back on and stood next to amazed photographers at the side of the pitch.