Don't even set foot in Manchester, ticketless Rangers fans warned

Extreme measures have been put in place to try and avoid a repeat of the Uefa Cup Final in 2008 where an estimated 175,000 Rangers fans descended on the city.

Trouble flared on the night of the match with yobs clashing with local police while major damage was done to the city centre.

Fewer than 4,000 tickets have been released to supporters of the Ibrox club for the match against Manchester United on Tuesday night with briefs distributed to official travel club members only.

Supporters will be held at Wigan's DW Stadium prior to the match. And chiefs at Greater Manchester Police are now warning fans without tickets to stay away.

Last night, Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins of Greater Manchester Police said no special effort will be made to welcome fans without briefs for the clash.

He said: "As a force we are extremely experienced at dealing with large-scale events and football matches. The spotlight will once again be on Manchester and we are sure that the city can show the world how to successfully host great sporting occasions like this.

"Inevitably people will attempt to draw comparisons with the 2008 Uefa Cup Final and the disorder that followed. I want to stress quite strongly that this is a totally different game under totally different circumstances.

"This match is part of a group stage and not a one-off final. As a result, like any other similar fixture, we are advising people without tickets not to travel for the game.

"Football fans should only come to Manchester if they have a valid ticket for the match. If you don't have a ticket there is no reason to come to this city - no special events will be put on for you.

"Away supporters will only be able to travel by coach. They will meet at the DW stadium in Wigan where they will have a couple of hours to relax in their reception areas. They will then be transported by official coach to Old Trafford. Supporters have to be on those coaches to pick up their tickets."

He added: "Of course we welcome genuine football fans with tickets with open arms and hope it will be an enjoyable event for everyone who attends."

Last night, Mike Amesbury, Manchester city council's executive member for culture and leisure added: "This is an early group stage match so the circumstances are entirely different to the 2008 Uefa cup final.

"But we will be working closely with the police to make sure that there is no repeat of what happened then."

Last week, a judge at Manchester Crown Court jailed nine of the troublemakers, and detained two in young offenders institutions. He described the events as "the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by Manchester city centre since the Blitz".

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Rangers fans are planning to taunt shamed Wayne Rooney about his marital strife during the crunch Champions League game.

Supporters of the Ibrox club have launched an online search to come up with songs ahead of the match related to Rooney allegedly sleeping with a Scottish-born prostitute.