Feyenoord to host Man United in reduced capacity stadium to avoid potential UEFA fine

Manchester United's Europa League away match against Feyenoord will take place in a reduced-capacity stadium as the Dutch club look to avoid triggering suspended punishments they were handed by UEFA for crowd trouble.

Feyenoord - drawn in Group A with United, Fenerbahce and Zorya Luhansk on Friday - released a statement this week in which they said they would be taking various measures for their European home games this season in a bid to minimise the risk of further problems.

That includes the capacity of their De Kuip ground - usually 51,000 - being reduced to around 26,000.

The club also said they will suspend nets at least 10 metres high around all sides of the pitch to prevent objects being thrown onto it, and employ additional stewards.

UEFA ordered Feyenoord to pay a 50,000-euro fine and to play their next European home match behind closed doors, suspended for two years, after spectators threw objects onto the field, fireworks were lit and steps were obstructed at their last continental fixture at De Kuip, a Europa League loss to Roma in February 2015.

They were also handed the same punishment, suspended for three years (commencing in June 2016), due to the racist behaviour of a fan during the match.

Feyenoord added in their statement the measures were deemed "absolutely necessary" and the "wrongs" for which they were punished "will not be tolerated or trivialised in any way by the club...(who are) determined to ensure they never again occur in the stadium."