Thursday , November 7 2024

‘Controlled explosion’ after abandoned Man Utd game at Old Trafford

 ‘Training device’ led to ManUtd-Bournemouth abandonment

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP |

The security alert that caused Manchester United’s Premier League game against Bournemouth to be abandoned at Old Trafford on Sunday and triggered a controlled explosion was caused by a “training device”, Greater Manchester Police said.

The device was accidentally left behind by a private company after a practice exercise.

Sunday’s abandoned match will now be played on Tuesday, May 17 at 8:00pm local time (1900 GMT), the English Premier League announced.

The annoucement came hours after army experts blew up the suspect device at United’s Old Trafford ground on Sunday following the discovery of an “incredibly lifelike explosive device” inside the ground.

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There has been a ‘controlled explosion’ at Old Trafford, police have said.

Police ordered Manchester United to abandon their final Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth on Sunday after a suspicious package was discovered at Old Trafford.

The game “has been abandoned, fans are leaving the ground. Please avoid the area if possible,” Manchester police said on their Twitter account.

The game was cancelled about 20 minutes before kickoff. United confirmed that a suspicious package had been found.

The rest of the season ending games continued elsewhere, with the latest reports indicating Arsenal are 4-0 up against Villa, and Spurs struggling, 5-1 down against relegated Newcastle in the second half.

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Howard tribute to sacked Martinez before last Everton game

American goalkeeper Tim Howard paid a touching tribute to sacked Everton manager Roberto Martinez ahead of his game for the Premier League side where he has been for the past decade.

Howard, 37, said he was “greatly indebted” to Martinez, who left this week, and hailed the Spanish coach “for his great decency and commitment to me as a player.”

The US international also praised David Moyes, Martinez’s predecessor, as “the ultimate leader.”

“I remember the promise that David Moyes made to me 10 years ago: ‘once you walk through those doors, you’ll fall in love,” Howard said in a message on Twitter ahead of his 414th and final game for the Liverpool side against Norwich City.

“Today I will walk through those doors one more time and then I will depart. I will depart with love in my heart for the greatest of football clubs, the people’s club, Everton FC.”

Howard, who joined Everton from Manchester United in 2006 and has dual US-Hungarian citizenship, is returning to America to play with the Colorado Rapids in the MSL. He has won 106 caps for the United States, though none this year.

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