British Transport Police (BTP) will have an “enhanced police presence” for Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final match against Coventry City, ahead of possible logistical overlaps with Liverpool’s Premier League visit to Fulham.
United are set to face Coventry at Wembley in the second FA Cup semi-final on Sunday April 21, with kick-off scheduled by the Football Association (FA) at 3:30 p.m. BST following discussions with the Metropolitan Police, who have judged the luminaire to be “medium risk”.
However, Liverpool’s clash against Fulham at Craven Cottage is set to take place an hour later, a match which was postponed in March for broadcasting reasons. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The overlap between these fixtures raises concerns over potential problems as United and Liverpool supporters are expected to converge on the capital. Services from Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street both terminate at London Euston, increasing the likelihood of fan encounters before and after matches.
Although the BTP is not able to give details on what the police presence will be before the events, it will be above average.
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A spokesperson said: “The safety of rail passengers remains the force’s top priority and an increased police presence and specialist resources will be deployed across the entire rail network throughout the weekend. »
It is currently unclear whether the organizations were aware of the potential dangers that the fixed kick-off time could present. The Met declined to comment, while Athleticism contacted the FA and the Premier League.
The 2024 London Marathon, meanwhile, will also take place on the same day as the two meetings.
United and Liverpool are historic rivals and incidents have taken place with both groups of supporters in recent weeks.
Man charged for singing about tragedy following last month’s FA Cup quarter-final between the two teams after video footage was shared of a fan in the local section of the Old Trafford crowd. Eight arrests were made following various alleged offenses including throwing pyrotechnics, racial slurs and intentional harassment.
Ahead of Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Old Trafford, Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag have warned their supporters against tragic chants.
Liverpool and United have collaborated on a joint initiative to raise awareness among young people about the impact of singing on Hillsborough, Heysel and Munich. Both clubs are committed to prohibiting individuals from engaging in abuse related to these tragedies, whether it occurs in stadiums or online.
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(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)