United fans in plea for calm as Roma thugs grab tickets for grudge match

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association echoed manager Sir Alex Ferguson's words by urging their followers not to seek revenge for last week's flare-ups with rival fans and riot police in Rome.

Scroll down for more

Roma's Ultras have mounted a campaign to snap up as many tickets as possible

In a statement on their website, the IMUSA also did their best to play down fears that Roma's hard-core Ultras, who were blamed for a wave of ambushes and knife attacks on visiting fans at last week's first leg, will be making the trip.

"The Roma fans at Old Trafford on Tuesday will be just like most of our fans who went to Rome last week and will be there only to watch the football," it said.

"We all need to make sure that there are no headlines in Manchester to wipe out the memory of those made by the Italian police last week in Rome."

However, despite such hopes that only peaceful Roma fans will travel, it emerged last night that T-shirts promoting the 'Roman Invasion of Manchester' have been selling furiously in the Italian capital, with members of the Ultras having mounted a campaign to snap up as many tickets as possible.

Taunt: a Roma T-shirt

When Roma's allocation went on general sale 10 days ago, Ultras arrived at ticket booths armed with names of fellow gang members who had been earmarked tickets, while ordinary fans were left empty-handed and their appeals to police were ignored.

One season-ticket holder said: "The tickets were due to go on sale at 8am and when I arrived the night before, the Ultras were already there controlling the situation.

"They were giving out coloured tickets according to which Ultra faction you belonged to and those of us who weren't Ultras were not given anything.

"It meant that when the booths opened, they got all the tickets."

Baton charge: police wade into United fans during the first leg in the Stadio Olimpico

Ferguson remains convinced that United fans will be targeting the wrong people if they try to carry out reprisal attacks.

He said: "We can't be taking it out on their innocent fans and I wouldn't expect our fans to even think about that.

"You can't blame the Roma fans who come to Manchester for causing any trouble because apparently their troublemakers don't travel abroad."

United are more concerned by the conduct of Italian riot police who they have accused of giving indiscriminate beatings to their fans inside the Olympic Stadium last week.