Manchester City's "Poznan celebration" -- in which they turn their backs to the field and jump up and down when their team scores -- has scuppered ManU's "plans to improve the atmosphere at Old Trafford," according to Mike Keegan of the MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS. The Reds wanted to move away fans at Old Trafford to the third tier of the stand in a bid to improve "the number, range and quality of seats" available to home fans and introduce a "singing section." After a police report on the experiment against Aston Villa, "the move was scrapped." The document, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, highlights a fear that away supporters, particularly those of Man City, will "move in a similar synchronised fashion" therefore causing the stands to "flex." The last time Man City played at Old Trafford, their fans performed the Poznan celebration six times. The report also highlights several other potential issues. Fears are raised that the duration of standing by away fans, coupled with the steep layout of the stand, "could see some plunge over the front of the tier." Concerns were also aired over the police's "ability to respond to trouble," with back-up officers having to race up 16 flights of stairs to get to the arena (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 7/9).
