Cost of policing Manchester United and Man City games soars as GMP figures revealed

The cost of policing Manchester United and Manchester City home games has exceeded £2.5million over the course of a season, according to new figures. Greater Manchester Police billed United £1,393,533.97 last season – almost double the season prior.

City, meanwhile, were charged £1,258,141.27 by GMP during their treble-winning campaign. It is thought to be the first time the combined bill has topped £2.5m.

The data - obtained from a Freedom of Information request - shows a significant rise on previous seasons and is higher than many other well-supported Premier League clubs. Last term, for example, Merseyside Police charged Liverpool £671,809 and Everton £453,647, according to another FOI.

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And Newcastle United were only charged £282,624 in 2022/2023 - more than £1m less than both City and United paid to GMP. The figures from GMP cover the last four years and include the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to restrictions being imposed on spectator attendance at football matches across the country.

United also saw a rise in protests against the Glazer family’s controversial ownership of the club – leading to several matchday disturbances and police intervention. In the Covid-impacted 2020/2021 season, GMP billed the Reds £332,521.52 – despite fans not being allowed to attend games. This figure includes the postponed match between United and Liverpool in May 2021, when two GMP officers were wounded as a 100-strong group stormed Old Trafford.

During the same season, City were billed £99,721.72. The cost of policing the current Champions League holders' matches exceeded United’s in two recent seasons - City were billed £571,998.54 in