Manchester United may have deliberately mislead fans about prohibited flags at the San Siro stadium for the Champions League clash with AC Milan next Tuesday. In a statement the club claimed that Italian regulations require flags to be in United’s ‘club colours’ – a potential clampdown on the green and gold revolution.
The club has attempted to silence critics in recent weeks, with anecdotal evidence pointing to roughhouse tactics by stewards who have pulled down Old Trafford anti-Glazer banners and banned fans wearing green and gold from ‘box’ areas.
“United fans wishing to display banners or, in some cases, flags inside the San Siro on Tuesday 16 February must first have them approved by AC Milan,” claimed a statement on the club mouthpiece ManUtd.com yesterday .
“In line with Italian regulations, fans must supply a picture of the banner/flag and information about its size to the visiting club’s Security Operative Group. After examining all submissions, the committee will notify each applicant of its decision to allow or prohibit the item from entering the stadium.
“According to guidelines published on the AC Milan website, flags not in club colours may not be allowed into the San Siro, while two-stick flags or flags of excessive dimensions likely to obstruct other supporters’ views are definitely prohibited. AC Milan also prohibits drums, loudspeakers or “any other sound diffusion systems” into the San Siro,” concludes the statement.
But United’s statement is incongruous with the official Milan policy, which requires flags to be approved if they are not in official club or country colours but absolutely does not prohibit these items. In any case, the point may be moot given that green and gold has been a ‘club colour’ since 1878.
Milan will also aid supporters who wish to fix banners to the stadium and then remove them at the end of the match.
Request for flag approval must be submitted today by completing Form A and sending by fax to the number +39 02 99786365 or by e-mail to the address striscioni@acmilan.it.
I was born a United Supporter and suffered with the rest during our (almost) 26 trophy less years, bar for 3 F.A. cups and a European Cup Winners Cup. I am like the majority also not happy with the current situation but and a big but I ask is our aim in mid-season?? Our actions might, at the wrong time, affect our players on the field. Our aim I believe is to get the club back from the Glaziers and again I say but do we realise that this is not as easy as it seems. Do we have the money (supporters) in hand to buy them out now? I presume not and if not us someone else has to buy the club from the Glaziers and where does that leave us?? The same position but different owners. So before we damage our club any further I suggest that we leave matters as they are. When we are in a position to do a Barcelona then we will go for the buy out. But till that day let’s support the team and management. You might say SAF and David Gill should come out condemning the Glaziers again I ask what good will that do? Who will run the club? A final parting statement – don’t give the newspapers and our opponents fuel to bring us down with from the perch we are on. I remind those youngsters that it’s no fun watching other teams winning trophies for 26 years – I suggest you ask any Liverpool fan how it feels watching your arch enemies winning everything in site.
100% agree
United4life!