A 19-year-old boy was allegedly called a ‘slave’ and left with bruised ribs and a fractured eye socket after security guards attacked him as he tried to make his way to work at a Manchester United home game.
The teenager, who was working for Arc hospitality firm at Old Trafford, was allegedly called a series of racist insults by security working for Controlled Solutions Group (CSG) before being pinned to a wall and assaulted.
The male victim, referred to as ‘K’ in an account of events published on Twitter by Manchester-based group Kids of Colour, was allegedly left requiring hospital treatment.
A picture taken four years ago of the alleged 19-year-old victim of a racist attack by security personnel outside Old Trafford before a match last month
The alleged victim was making his way to Old Trafford to work at the Europa League fixture between Manchester United and Club Brugge on February 27
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they had opened an investigation into ‘a report of racially aggravated public order and alleged assault’ with United co-operating.
Kids of Colour published a photograph of the alleged victim from four years ago in promotional literature for the Manchester United Foundation.
According to the account of events tweeted out by the Manchester community group, the 19-year-old, who had worked at Old Trafford for six months, was making his way to work at the stadium.
A CSG guard asked him ‘what are you doing here?’ and refused to believe that he worked there before calling over a supervisor.
One of the guards allegedly said ‘surprised I didn’t find a knife’ after searching the teenager’s bag before two other CSG guards allegedly started to make fun of him.
The security guards called three GMP police officers over, who allegedly ignored a complaint about the knife comment.
A guard then allegedly approached ‘K’ and said: ‘I can buy and sell you. You’re a slave’.
The first page of a statement relating to the incident released by Kids of Colour on Twitter
The detailed account of the alleged racist attack by security personnel outside Old Trafford
Another allegedly said: ‘Look at you, you little scruff, what are you going to do, make tea and clean boots’ and ‘you’re not going to see the ground today, you’ll leave in cuffs.’
After ‘K’ was unable to contact his manager to verify his identity, the incident allegedly became physical with one guard twisting his wrist before others kicked his bike.
According to the account: ‘They then threw his bike across the street, slammed K against a wall, and one guard put his hand across K’s throat. Guards took it in turns to hit him in the stomach.’
He ultimately left the scene and went to hospital, where he was found to have bruised ribs and a fractured eye socket.
According to the account, police informed the victim that no CCTV footage of the incident was available.
However, police have since started an investigation with United’s co-operation.
The alleged incident occurred before United’s 5-0 win over Club Brugge on February 27
‘Greater Manchester Police continue to investigate a report of racially aggravated public order and alleged assault on Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester,’ a police statement read.
‘Shortly before 8pm on Thursday 27 February 2020 it was reported that two men subjected a man to racist comments before assaulting him.
‘An account was taken from the victim later that evening and officers have since been keeping in contact with him while working to gather further important information.
‘This includes reviewing CCTV images from the area where the incident is believed to have taken place to try and identify those potentially involved.
‘GMP takes allegations of this nature very seriously and is committed to exploring every possible line of inquiry.’
The alleged incident happened before United’s 5-0 victory over Club Brugge in the Europa League on February 27 as the victim was trying to make his way to work.
The 19-year-old alleged victim was working in a hospitality area at Man United’s home ground
Both the hospitality firm and the security company are third parties contracted by the club on matchdays.
A United spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of an alleged serious incident prior to the Club Brugge match on 27 February.
‘We are co-operating fully with the police and await an outcome from their investigation.’
CSG said they were supporting the police investigation but claimed the boy’s account of events was ‘totally false and fabricated.’
A CSG statement read: ‘Controlled Solutions Group will comply fully with any investigation into the allegation of the assault or abuse by members of our staff,’ the company said.
‘We categorically deny that any CSG staff were involved in an assault or abuse of any type on this individual. It is our opinion that this individual has made a totally false and fabricated account of assault or abuse against him by security staff.
‘CSG will be fully compliant in support of any police or other investigation into these false allegations.
‘We are extremely confident that there will be no further action by police or any evidence produced to corroborate this individual’s claims following further inquiries.
‘CSG will make no further comment on this issue.’