UPDATE: |Manchester United away fans hit out after being forced to meet at bleak business park 8 miles from centre of Lyon News

The move by police in France is ‘draconian’, says fan group

A Manchester United fan group has hit out at a ‘draconian’ move requiring almost 3,000 away fans to meet at a bleak business park eight miles away from the centre of Lyon before tonight’s crunch Europa League clash in France tonight.

United bosses have informed their away supporters they are required to meet up at the Eurexpo conference centre on the outskirts of the historic centre of Lyon to catch shuttle buses to the Groupama stadium for tonight’s quarter final first leg tie.

Old Trafford bosses apologised ‘for the significant inconvenience this will cause’ while the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST), which represents fan interests, suggested the arrangements were ‘draconian’. Only supporters who present their ticket at the business park will receive a wristband which will allow them onto shuttle buses to the ground.

Supporters who make their own arrangements to the ground, even if they have a ticket, won’t be allowed into the game, according to organisers. It means many of the travelling Reds won’t have time to enjoy the historic centre of Lyon, like they on many other away days on the continent.

The ground itself is a further five miles to the north of the business park, also well away from the centre of Lyon.

MUST spoke for many fans when it posted about the arrangements from its X account, stating: “We’ll review post-match reports before making any representations to UEFA. However we believe that stadia that cannot safely host away fans without the imposition of draconian restrictions should not be granted a license by UEFA to host matches.

“The option to escalate as a wider campaign to the Council of Europe and European Parliament is also being considered.”

The supporters’ group will survey the thoughts of travelling Reds after the game before deciding any next steps.

Manchester United also expressed frustration at the arrangements in a statement for travelling fans on the club’s website.

The club said: “We appreciate and apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause to some of your plans. Please be assured the club has fought hard to reduce impact on travelling fans – which originally involved two collection points situated across the city centre. However, we must relay the strong advice of the host country security and police forces and ask you comply with their request.”

The arrangements have added to an already tense fixture, thanks to a public spat between United goalkeeper Andre Onana and former United midfielder Nemanja Matic who is now playing for Lyon.

Matic called Onana ‘one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history’ after the goalie had drawn attention to the Lyon midfielder’s trophyless time at Old Trafford.

Onana said after Sunday’s 0-0 Manchester derby draw against City at Old Trafford that overcoming Lyon, who sit fifth in Ligue 1, was ‘not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them’.

It sparked a war of words on the eve of the game, with the normally understated Matic – who played for United between 2017 and 2022 – taking aim at the goalkeeper. “I don’t know – you know, to say that you need to have cover for something like that. Onana?” Matic said, before puffing out his cheeks.

“You know, I respect everyone but to say that then you need to give the answer. If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history, you need to take care of what you are talking (about).

“If David De Gea or Peter Schmeichel or (Edwin) van der Sar said that, then I would question myself.

“But if you’re one of the statistically worst goalkeepers in Man United’s modern history, then he needs to show that before he says. We will see.”

Matic’s comments were followed by a pointed post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Onana nodding to the fact that United did not win a trophy in the midfielder’s five seasons at Old Trafford.

Posting alongside a photo of himself kissing the FA Cup, the goalkeeper said: “I would never be disrespectful to another club. We know that tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent.

“We focus on preparing a performance to make our fans proud. At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”