Manchester United fans have written an open letter of complaint to the Mayor of Bruges claiming fans had “feared for their lives” during last week’s Europa League clash in the Belgian city.

Not for the first time, away fans from England who have travelled to the picturesque city were ordered to make the long walk to the stadium, before the match and again afterwards, with the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) alleging that some were even forced off buses to the ground.

It is said that local taxi firms had been instructed not to take to or collect fans from the stadium and even “elderly” and supporters with “mobility” issues were forced to walk in terrible weather conditions.

Worryingly for Uefa, MUST also labelled the decision to lock gates blocking exits a disgrace, with dangerous crushes building up on flights of stairs and on the concourse.

As well as questioning why barbed wire and a water cannon were deployed outside the stadium, MUST believe there was nothing to justify the “hostile” and “antagonistic” behaviour of local police.