UPDATE: |Manchester United fans face more travel chaos in Lyon as underground system breaks down News

It comes after reports away fans were forced to meet at a business park eight miles away from the centre

Manchester United fans heading to Lyon in France for a crunch Europe League tie have been hit by yet more travel disruption.

Earlier today the Manchester Evening News reported how a Manchester United fan group had 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.

Now Reds heading to the game have learned the city’s underground system has broken down. Lyon’s Metro system has failed this evening and transport bosses were hastily laying on buses to get fans to the game in time.

A message sent to United supporters by Manchester United said: “We have been made aware of a general Metro breakdown across the city. Buses have been made available at Place Bellecour (Grand Poste side) to take supporters directly to Eurexpo for wristband collection.”

The underground failure adds to an already fraught evening for travelling Reds.

United bosses have already 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.”