Controversy was rife midweek when Manchester United faced Lille at the Felix-Bollaert stadium. United were quick to condemn the actions of the Lille players, coaching staff and groundsmen. Xavier Thuilot, Lille’s director general, has now fired criticism in Manchester United’s direction.
“Manchester United are imposing their own brand of the law to Lille football club, to the Felix-Bollaert stadium and to Uefa. There was a real will on their part to impose their side of the story right from the full-time whistle because the club knows what’s at stake following incidents involving their supporters.”
He then went on to blame Manchester United for the crowd trouble. “We sent their quota of places to Manchester several weeks ago, as is the usual thing to do. But the English club, instead of distributing the tickets to their supporters on their arrival at the stadium (or) on their descent from the bus, sent them out a month ago. The result – some very good forgeries, which have allowed some supporters to enter the stand reserved for them. All the forged tickets on the night were Manchester United tickets.”