Huge security operation as Man Utd take on Rangers

Manchester United's Champions League clash with Rangers this month is predictably being billed as the 'Battle of Britain', but the police and both clubs are going to great lengths to ensure that it doesn't become just that.

Unprecedented security measures will be in place when the Scottish champions visit Old Trafford on September 14 to try and prevent a repetition of the events that marred Rangers' last appearance in Manchester, in the 2008 Uefa Cup final.

This time round fans of the Scottish club will have to travel on official coaches from Glasgow, which will deliver them to the DW Stadium in Wigan. Food and toilet facilities will be available at the stadium and official buses will then shuttle the fans to Old Trafford.

Tickets will only be handed out once the fans are aboard the coaches taking them to United's ground, and anyone deemed to be under the influence of alcohol will be refused entry to Old Trafford.

Two years ago, when Rangers made it to the Uefa Cup final and took on Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium, there was carnage. Up to 150,000 Rangers fans, mostly without tickets, descended on the city and ran amok when a giant screen that was supposed to show the game failed to work.

Although the situation will be somewhat different when Rangers play United in the Champions League group stages there are concerns that ticketless away fans will arrive en masse in the city.

The FA are anxious to prevent any chance of violence erupting as a high profile outbreak of hooliganism would not help England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Police and clubs in Britain have worked long and hard to try and rid domestic football of its violent image and improve safety at football grounds.

A recent report suggested that it was working, at least in the Premier League, where crowds are growing increasingly diverse. There were no instances of hooliganism involving England fans at the World Cup in South Africa this summer and the Fifa delegation inspecting England's 2018 bid said it had no concerns about safety and security. ·