Police issue warning to fans heading to Wembley as City and United face off for first time in FA Cup final
01.06.2023 - 17:07
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
More than 1,200 officers will be stationed in and around Wembley as part of the huge policing operation for the historic Manchester derby FA cup final.
Manchester City and Manchester United face-off in the final of the world's oldest football competition for the first very first time at the London stadium on Saturday.
Each side has an official allocation of 30,500 tickets, with even more supporters of both expected to be inside the 90,000-capacity ground for the showpiece.
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Rail strikes have caused travel chaos, with no direct trains running between Manchester and London, with City, United and the FA all laying on extra coaches to try and compensate.
Kick-off has been brought forward to 3pm and supporters of both teams have been advised to use different motorway routes and specific allocated service stations to try and prevent flashpoints on the way to the capital.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Ade Adelekan, who is overseeing the police operation said there was 'no intelligence' that there would be violence at the game.
However, he said the Metropolitan Police had been planning for the event for six months and that hundreds of officers would be on duty to deal with any incidents.
This includes dedicated football officers from GMP who he said 'know the fans' and will be travelling south in a move he described as 'very important.' He said they had also liaised with bosses at forces in the 'corridor' between Manchester and Wembley.
"This not just about the Met it's about the Met and its partner, which includes GMP, delivering what's going to be a safe, secure and enjoyable event for