Manchester United supporters were reportedly still leaving the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium at 2am on Friday morning after Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce. Shocking footage has emerged of the 2,500 travelling fans’ exit being limited to one small doorway at full-time, with the process stuck at a stand-still for over two hours.
United’s support visited Istanbul in numbers for a mouth-watering reunion with Jose Mourinho in search of a first Europa League win this season.
However, Erik ten Hag’s side squandered a lead to drop points for the fourth consecutive European away match in the 1-1 draw.
Christian Eriksen’s emphatic finish rounded off a free-flowing move involving Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Alejandro Garnacho and Noussair Mazraoui in the first half.
But moments after the break, Allan Saint-Maximin was afforded space to produce an inswinging cross from the left, finding Youssef En-Nesyri, who glanced an unstoppable header past Andre Onana.
United haven’t won in six European games and boast just victory in their last 11 across the Europa League and Champions League, the club’s worst run of such results in 41 years.
Thursday’s stalemate against Fenerbahce left the Red Devils languishing in 21st in the league phase, already six points behind leaders Lazio.
And the misery continued off the pitch for supporters, who were held in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium for hours after a ball had been kicked.
Footage posted on X by @iMUFC7, a supporter amidst the chaos, showed United fans trying to cram through a tiny exit while masses waited in the concourse.
Two hours later, at 1.16am, another in attendance, @mufc_miller, revealed that travelling support was still waiting to leave the stadium.
In a quote post, journalist Simon Peach claimed he was left stunned after seeing a bus full of United fans departing the stadium as late as 2am.
The match kicked off at 10pm in Istanbul due to the two-hour time difference from the UK, making it a late occasion for the visitors anyway.
But the absurd treatment would’ve dampened the experience further for more supporters who haven’t watched United win away in Europe since a 1-0 triumph at Real Betis in March 2023.
The Red Devils’ Europa League fixtures now become kinder after tricky back-to-back away tests at FC Porto and Fenerbahce.
PAOK, Bodo/Glimt and Rangers visit Old Trafford, while Victoria Plzen and Steaua Bucharest play host.
If United fail to sneak into the top eight and are made to settle for a play-off spot, it’ll hand Ten Hag two more games he could really do without in February.
