In front of Jamie Caplan, a security strap read: "you are entering a red zone." Manchester United fan argues that he saw red but did not cross the line by venting towards the dugout, but the referee disagrees.
He snapped when Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho headed in a cross for his 12th home game of the season on Saturday. On the United bench, he rose up and unleashed a volley of verbal abuse.
Darren Fletcher, United's technical director, reacted angrily and the two traded barbs. Standing in the technical section, Ralf Rangnick was blissfully unaware of the uproar around him.
Jamie was approached by security before he was escorted out of the auditorium. In the end, he left the stadium on his own accord, but he couldn't leave until three minutes after Fred equalized.
As a self-employed architectural glazier, Jamie fractured his wrist in a motorcycle accident and is temporarily out of work. At the age of six, he made his first trip to a stadium where his emotions were on full display.
Jamie tells the MEN, "I couldn't care less about the outcome. "My argument was based on the fact that I cared about the work that was being put in, and that's what I care about. They seemed unconcerned. The bench responded as though they didn't give a fig about it. That's what I said, and that's what the guys responded to.
"'You don't f——-g care,' I yelled back. Not a single word was said about or about Fletcher specifically. To his credit, he was the first to take offense and turn around to demand that I explain myself and sit down. Having taken this quite personally, I decided to return to Fletcher at that point.
United's technical director, Fletcher, is a well-known name.
There was no way he was going to say anything to me after that. McTominay turned around and saw it. By this moment, I was already up the stairs and couldn't hear what he was saying.
"As a fan who attends games." For all the money I've invested, I make frequent trips to see them perform. I'm well-versed in non-league football, so I know how desperate they are for it (at United). Any non-league squad can be seen to be a wreck if you go watch them.
I can't seem to find the f——-g fight. 'It doesn't matter to you.' That's pretty much exactly what I said, word for word. It didn't sit well with him (Fletcher). It's impossible for him to pretend he wasn't there since he was. There are some standards that must be met to be considered top-notch. Considering he was in a locker room with Keane, I believe him if he turns around and says, "That's a decent enough United side." He is lying and I don't trust him to tell me the truth. Take a look at all of the old pros; they all say the same thing: the desire is just not there, and that's the problem. There isn't anything there.
"I wasn't the only one saying these things at the same moment in the stadium. In the phrase 'who are you?', Fletcher is referring to himself. In addition to me, he's saying the same thing to these other folks."
Man United fans watch against Leicester
Stewards did not deport Jamie because they asked him to return to his seat, but he had had enough and went up to the gangway toward the exit, where he was met with applause from the audience. Jamie was informed that he would be unable to leave once he reached the concourse.
The reason for his departure is simple: "I asked to be let go." "On my way to the concourse, I was barred from exiting the stadium because of security concerns. The situation had been fine up until that time.
"The truth is, they'd actually told me to return to my seat. 'It's all right, pal, I'm going to leave,' I replied. When I got up to leave, I started heading up the stairs, and then they started following behind me, and once we got down to where the bar portion is, they said, 'you're not going anywhere now, we're getting GMP involved.'
"They didn't let me get out of the stadium, even though I tried to get past them. I went on another rage. United fans are clearly ecstatic after Fred scored. All of them agreed that it had all been for naught. A final thought: it isn't for nothing, and it isn't a one-time event. Over the course of a few seasons, they've come to the conclusion that they don't give a damn."
Following a further 10 minutes of wait, Amie was permitted to exit the stadium. He feels treated fairly. "The two of us had a good time, and we even had a good laugh together. In response to my question, "Where are you going me?", he replied, "To hell!" Afterwards, I went out of the stadium and told the crowd, "You're lucky I was allowed to go and walk out of the stadium." From there, it was all over. As I walked away from the situation, I was enraged."
An aerial view of Old Trafford on Saturday
Some fans cheered as Jamie made his way toward the exit, but it was not obvious if they were in agreement with his outburst. Despite the fact that the club has not been in touch with him since the event, he plans to return, but not to the mild-mannered South Stand.
The applause didn't register with him, he admits when asked if he had observed it. As far as I was concerned, I had no idea what anyone else was doing. The only thing the crowd made the entire game was boos, assuming that's what they were. I'll never sit in the south stand again!
I was sitting in the front row, singing along on my own, which was probably a little embarrassing. Besides, I think the game is about that. It's about going and letting off some steam. There's a line. I didn't cross it, and I wasn't being personal, so I just think of it as a big win. That's what football is all about.
"If I can go back, I will. It's mine. I think it's great. I love being there. I would go back, for sure."
As a child, Jamie went to Old Trafford for the first time in August 2002, a month before starting Year 2 at primary school. It was seven months before Fletcher made his United debut there against Basel. He only went to games a few times until he started a "paper round" at the age of 14, and he spent his money on "going to any game I could." He had a season ticket for four years that he gave up because of the Covid-19 virus.
Jamie Caplan first visited Old Trafford in 2002.
The club are open to speaking with Jamie to smooth things up and he is grateful of some of the measures United have made this season. "They've acted with regard to the supporters, it has been slightly better," he says. "They now have fans on the advisory board, we have a singing area, and the rates have been reduced, so they have pushed things in the correct direction, which I appreciate very much. In order for this to continue,"
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