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Bournemouth could seek compensation over abandoned Manchester United game

A sniffer dog patrols the stands as Man Utd v Bournemouth is abandoned with fans evacuated from Old Trafford
Image: Sunday's match at Old Trafford was abandoned after a suspect package was discovered

Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn has not ruled out seeking compensation for Sunday's abandoned match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a device described as a "life-like" bomb was accidentally left at the stadium by a private company following a training exercise last Wednesday.

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Greater Manchester mayor and police crime commissioner Tony Lloyd criticised the "fiasco" and called for a full enquiry while the match has been rearranged for Tuesday, live on Sky Sports 1.

Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn refused to apportion blame
Image: Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn refused to apportion blame

Bournemouth chief Mostyn wants to make sure his club are exonerated of any liability.

"It's not my responsibility to apportion blame to anybody," he told Sky Sports News HQ.

"What we've got to do is get this game out of the way on Tuesday and then the Greater Manchester Police and Manchester United are responsible for investigating why this happened.

Sky Live: Man Utd v Bournemouth
Sky Live: Man Utd v Bournemouth

Man Utd host Bournemouth in their rearranged fixture on Tuesday

"We've all heard speculation about the security firm that left the device, and we can all speculate as to who had the last responsibility in ensuring the stadium was clear after this 'mock-up terrorist attack', as it's being called.

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"The only one thing that is 100 per cent certain is that AFC Bournemouth are completely exonerated as the away team of having any liability or responsibility."

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Greater Manchester police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd has demanded an enquiry

Asked whether he could seek financial compensation, Mostyn said: "We need the dust to settle and evaluate just what the legal implications are first."