MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Thinking of taking in a Manchester United game at Old Trafford this season?
Better leave your iPad at home.
Citing “latest security intelligence,” United has added “large electronic devices, including laptops and tablets,” to the list of banned items for match days at its famous 76,100-seat stadium.
The new measures were explained to fans in an email before Tuesday’s exhibition game against Valencia. No other English club is believed to have taken such action.
“The scale of Old Trafford and profile of Manchester United mean that the risk at this venue is unique,” United said.
Fans are increasingly using iPads and similar devices to take photographs and videos in stadiums, raising concerns that games could be filmed and copyright laws broken.
Holding up large devices for a selfie or snapping a picture of a favorite player or coach may also restrict the view of spectators nearby.
In 2010, the New York Yankees introduced a policy that prohibited fans from bringing laptops inside Yankee Stadium, and iPads were included in that ban.
Decisions on what can be brought into an English soccer stadium are a matter for the “relevant stadium management authorities,” United said.
The club, however, will still allow smartphones and small cameras inside Old Trafford.
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