Manchester City's critical Champions League night was thrown into turmoil after a merchandise store was set on fire outside the Etihad Stadium.
Hundreds of fans were gathered nearby as they waited to welcome Pep Guardiola's men outside the West Stand before their crunch clash with Club Bruges.
It is a must-win fixture for the Premier League champions, who will crash out of Europe's elite competition for the first time since 2012-13 without three points.
The fire was contained after a quick response from emergency services and City confirmed within around 40 minutes that it had been extinguished. It is unclear how it began.
'The safety of all attending the match tonight is our top priority, and as such all events planned for West Stand reception have been canceled, including the welcome event for new players, and the first-team arrival,' the club wrote on X.
Fans were speedily evacuated to a safe distance to allow the authorities to tackle the flames. No injuries were reported. The turnstiles for that part of the ground were taken out of use.
A truck from Greater Manchester's Fire and Rescue Service was on the scene within minutes of the blaze breaking out.
But the inferno is precisely the sort of disturbance that the hosts do not need as they seek to cling to their Champions League dreams.
Exiting the Champions League at this stage would cost City at least £10million in prize money - and, given their habit of going far in the competition, likely much more.
Twenty-four out of the 36 teams in the competition advance to the next stage and City were given better odds of winning all eight of their group games rather than finishing on the eight they currently have.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Just before 6 pm this evening, two fire engines from Blackley and Philips Park fire station were called to reports of a building fire involving an outbuilding on the car park of the football ground on Rowsley Street, Manchester.
'Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire, they are currently dampening down any hotspots and making the area safe.'
Bruges are no pushovers. The Belgian champions have already claimed one English scalp in the form of Aston Villa this season and held Juventus to a 0-0 draw in their last European assignment.
Asked if elimination would be embarrassing, Guardiola replied: ‘Thank you for your concern but after the game, it will concern me and I will answer you.
Hundreds of fans were gathered nearby as they waited to welcome Pep Guardiola's men outside the West Stand before their crunch clash with Club Bruges.
It is a must-win fixture for the Premier League champions, who will crash out of Europe's elite competition for the first time since 2012-13 without three points.
The fire was contained after a quick response from emergency services and City confirmed within around 40 minutes that it had been extinguished. It is unclear how it began.
'The safety of all attending the match tonight is our top priority, and as such all events planned for West Stand reception have been canceled, including the welcome event for new players, and the first-team arrival,' the club wrote on X.
Fans were speedily evacuated to a safe distance to allow the authorities to tackle the flames. No injuries were reported. The turnstiles for that part of the ground were taken out of use.
A truck from Greater Manchester's Fire and Rescue Service was on the scene within minutes of the blaze breaking out.
But the inferno is precisely the sort of disturbance that the hosts do not need as they seek to cling to their Champions League dreams.
Exiting the Champions League at this stage would cost City at least £10million in prize money - and, given their habit of going far in the competition, likely much more.
Twenty-four out of the 36 teams in the competition advance to the next stage and City were given better odds of winning all eight of their group games rather than finishing on the eight they currently have.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Just before 6 pm this evening, two fire engines from Blackley and Philips Park fire station were called to reports of a building fire involving an outbuilding on the car park of the football ground on Rowsley Street, Manchester.
'Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire, they are currently dampening down any hotspots and making the area safe.'
Bruges are no pushovers. The Belgian champions have already claimed one English scalp in the form of Aston Villa this season and held Juventus to a 0-0 draw in their last European assignment.
Asked if elimination would be embarrassing, Guardiola replied: ‘Thank you for your concern but after the game, it will concern me and I will answer you.
Category
🥇
Sports