UEFA to take action against Liverpool and Manchester United

Europe's football body UEFA said Friday it has charged both Liverpool and Manchester United following disturbances during Thursday Cup clash at Old Trafford.

Although the game ended with a score line of 1-1, Liverpool progressed to the next found having won the first leg at Anfield 2-0.

Ugly scenes towards the closing stages of the clash between the two big rivals of England's Premier League led to UEFA investigating what went wrong on Thursday night.

Police in Manchester confirmed five fans, 4 from Liverpool and one from United, were arrested for offences linked to the troubles.

Crowd trouble erupted in a seating area above the East Stand where 3,000 Liverpool fans were sitting.

Some of the Liverpool fans unfolded a banner provoking Manchester fans sitting close by. It led to scuffles breaking out, and seats torn up and thrown, before the police and stewards stepped in to restore calm.

People among the Liverpool fans were heard to chant 'Munich', regarded as a reference to the 1958 disaster when a number of a United stars were killed.

But United supporters had also been heard to chant about the Hillsborough tragedy in which 94 Liverpool fans were killed.

Liverpool supporters heading along the M62 motorway which links the two cities were furious when they spotted a home-made banner attached to a motorway bridge, with the word Murderers. It was seen as another provocative anti-Liverpool taunt.

UEFA have charged Manchester United over blocked stairways, crowd disturbances and throwing objects. Liverpool have been charged with illicit chants, fireworks, throwing objects and late kick-off.

UEFA rules that all clubs may be subject to disciplinary measures for "inappropriate behaviour on the part of their supporters" including the throwing of objects, the lighting of fireworks or any other objects and "any other lack of order or discipline observed inside or around the stadium". Endit