With Rangers supporters in town for the opening Champions League Group C game against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Ferguson has spoken out against the section of Rangers fans who took to the streets of Manchester after one of the big screens scheduled to show the game in the city centre broke down.
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In the aftermath, 13 people were charged with violent disorder. Manchester Crown Court Judge Andrew Blake condemned what he described as "the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by Manchester city centre since the blitz" and even former Prime Minister Gordon Brown weighed in, calling the riots “completely unacceptable” and those involved “a disgrace.”
"We in Manchester have good cause to remember the UEFA Cup final, of course, because it was played in Manchester at Eastlands in a match that pained me as some of the visiting supporters of the Scottish side ran amok in the city centre," said Ferguson.
"It was a good idea to have screens showing the match live, but hardly helpful when, for whatever reason, the relay failed," added the United boss.
"It's no excuse for the appalling behaviour of a certain section of fans, but it must have been mightily frustrating for everyone.”
Rangers fans who are eligible for a ticket will be escorted to Wigan’s DW Stadium in specially arranged buses, where they will congregate for “catering and rest facilities.”
"All I can say is that I have every confidence that we can stage a trouble-free game,” said Ferguson.
“We have worked hard on the security aspect and feel the plan to take the visiting supporters to the Wigan ground for ticket distribution before bringing them to Old Trafford by bus should help.”
