Manchester United have launched an urgent review of their security measures after it emerged that a man who invaded the pitch during their Champions League tie against Juventus at Old Trafford last week had smuggled two toy guns into the ground.

The man, who was in his 40s, was arrested and held in police custody overnight and subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act after running on to the field three minutes into United’s 1-0 defeat to the Italian side last Tuesday.

He had made a beeline for Juventus forward and former United icon Cristiano Ronaldo but slipped before getting to the Portuguese and was thwarted by stewards. Ronaldo went over to shake the man’s hand, to applause from some in the crowd, but it has been reported that when security staff went to his seat they found a backpack containing two toy guns.

United admitted the situation was a concern and were reviewing their security. A spokesman for the club told the Daily Mail, who first reported the story: “Carrying a children’s miniature plastic toy gun into a stadium is clearly an extremely irresponsible act. Fortunately, the actions of the pitch intruder at the Juventus game did not harm anyone.