Manchester United failed to address a known issue with the Old Trafford roof, which is prone to occasional leaks, as evidenced by the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
The club acknowledges faults in the Old Trafford roof that allowed rain to seep through during the game and on previous occasions. However, they attribute the substantial water flow from the south-west corner of the Stretford End not to a leak, but to the excessive rainfall overwhelming the siphonic roof drainage system, causing it to overflow.
Following the match, which ended at around 6.20pm, 41mm of rain fell within two hours, with 25mm falling in the first half-hour alone. This is 29mm more than the entire corresponding month last year and nearly equal to the national average rainfall for May.
While United have considered replacing the roof, it would be a multimillion-pound project with significant operational challenges. Any decision is closely tied to the ongoing stadium redevelopment plans, which started over two years ago and advanced with the formation of a taskforce in March to explore all regeneration options.
The club’s delay in addressing these issues has been a point of contention among fans and stakeholders. In 2019, water also poured from the Stretford End, soaking fans before United’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. The same issue occurred during the 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace last September.