 "More embarrassment for Manchester United with Old Trafford given two-star food hygiene rating")
It’s not just the on-field performances of the senior men's team that has been a major cause for concern for Manchester United, one of the world’s most popular football clubs. The 20-time English top-flight champions have also been dealing with a plethora of issues pertaining to the Old Trafford, their iconic home ground that has fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years.
The club, after all, has been receiving complaints regarding leaks in the Old Trafford stadium roof, especially during heavy rain, as well as lack of upgrades at the venue in nearly two decades, resulting in limited and outdated facilities despite it being the largest club football stadium in the United Kingdom.
The Glazer family, the majority owners of the club who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League (NFL), are primarily blamed for turning a blind eye towards the club’s home ground and letting it rot while devoting their attention to their NFL team back home.
Iconic Old Trafford get a two-star food hygiene rating
It’s not just infrastructural issues that the Old Trafford has been facing in recent years, during which Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have upgraded their home grounds into world-class stadiums that has left United’s base appearing second-rate in comparison. The hospitality isn’t great either, with limited beverage options available at the venue and guests allegedly having been served raw chicken last season.
And according to The Athletic, the Old Trafford has been given a two-star rating on food hygiene after mouse droppings were found at multiple spots in the hospitality areas. The report added that an inspection from the Trafford Council on 16 April did recognise the “significant work” that had been undertaken by the stadium management to deal with the mouse problem.
However, faeces being discovered at seven different areas of the stadium, including at the Ambassador Lounge is what led to the low rating. The health inspectors, however, did not find rodent droppings in the kitchens or food preparation areas.
Additional complaints included the lack of hot water and soap in numerous parts of the stadium as well as the general cleanliness in hospitality areas turning out to be below par.
While United, who finished 15th at the end of the 2024-25 season and runners-up in the Europa League, will be aiming to get minimise rodent presence at their venues ahead of the next season, they will be looking for temporary fixes to the infrastructural issues at the Old Trafford.
Shortly after the arrival of the Jim Ratcliffe-led INEOS Group , which acquired a 25 per cent stake in the club in February last year to assume sporting control of the club, Manchester United announced their decision to move out of the Old Trafford – their home ground for more than a century – into a modern, world-class venue with a capacity of 100,000, which will make it one of the largest football stadiums in the world.
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