Health inspectors smell a rat at Old Trafford

Conspiracy theorists have long been able to smell a rat in even the most minor of incidents on the pitch, but those at Old Trafford might have more grounds than most after health inspectors reported the presence of rodents at the stadium.

An inspection of Manchester United’s stadium revealed “mouse activity” which the club were advised to monitor, alongside a broken tap and flaking pipework, according to a report by fcbusiness. In response to the report, available through a Freedom of Information request, United said they had a “robust pest control system”.

Meanwhile, Reading risked getting entangled in a mess after food inspectors found cobwebs and dead insects in a drinks area.

The inspectors uncovered a host of dubious hygiene practises in other Premier League grounds, with Swansea criticised for serving pink chicken, leaving open a packet of ham in a kitchen and letting pâté go off.

Chelsea were warned about a serious contravention of hygiene laws when they nearly served out of date “cooked turkey saddles”. Poor labelling of meat pies earned the Stamford Bridge club a further reprimand, though a later inspection noted that their hygiene standards had improved to become generally excellent.

But for the league’s cleanest clubs, look no further than Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle and Sunderland. All were equals in the keeping things tidy department.

Guardian Service