Manchester United Fans Reportedly Arrested After Brugge Champions League Tie

A section of Manchester United supporters were arrested in Belgium on Wednesday night in the wake of the team’s Champions League tie with Club Brugge, according to Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail.

It’s noted in the piece that “dozens” were detained after the match, which United won 4-0. The incident is said to have taken place at the Charlie Rockets pub between a section of “Bruges's hooligan element” and Red Devils fans who had travelled to the city without a match ticket.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

A police source quoted in the piece admitted the incident was not befitting of the overwhelming majority of the supporters in attendance: “Over two nights there was a really good atmosphere. It is a shame an isolated incident has overshadowed this.”

Keegan elaborates on the incident in his piece:

"

They cleared the pub and arrested around 15 Brugge and 25 United supporters. Those held were taken to a nearby police station for questioning.

Of the United fans arrested at the popular pub, which is a known haunt for bikers, 23 were eventually released without charged while two were retained in custody. The incident, thought to be an arranged meet between two known groups of trouble causers, was isolated on a mostly trouble-free night.

"

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

According to Keegan, there were some problems with supporters at the match too, with a further 25 supporters arrested at the stadium. Again, some were apparently detained for not possessing a ticket, which is a criminal offence in Belgium, while 17 were arrested for “breach of the peace” and one for running onto the playing surface.

On Twitter, Keegan stated that the arrest figures provided were an approximate given the nature of the flare-ups:

In terms of the tie itself, things went much more smoothly for Louis van Gaal’s side. A Wayne Rooney hat-trick and a goal from Ander Herrera allowed the Red Devils to coast into the group stages of the Champions League at the expense of the Belgian giants; the 4-0 win on the night gave the visitors an overall aggregate victory of 7-1.