United policy to combat crowd trouble

Leeds and Manchester United have slashed away ticket allocations for games between the two clubs this season in a bid to prevent serious crowd trouble.

An increasingly bitter rivalry has existed between supporters of the two clubs for years, and outbreaks of violence are commonplace.

There was trouble at Elland Road and Old Trafford last season, and after discussions between the two clubs it was decided that cutting the number of visiting fans attending the games was the most sensible course of action.

Leeds will give United just 1,300 tickets for the first encounter in Yorkshire on October 18 – with Peter Reid’s side getting 1,900 in for the Old Trafford return on February 21.

“Both clubs have taken the decision to cut their respective ticket allocations reluctantly and are aware that the moves penalise the many decent, law-abiding football supporters who peacefully attend the games,” said a joint statement released on behalf of the Premiership duo.

“But Manchester United and Leeds United believe that given the behaviour of a small but sizeable minority of away fans at previous games between the two teams, this is the best course of action to avoid further incidents of hooliganism and public disorder and to protect public safety.”

The extra tickets will be sold to home supporters, although the clubs have said if the two matches pass of peacefully this season their full allocations will be restored for the 2004-05 campaign.