A merchandise stand caught fire outside Manchester City’s stadium ahead of a Champions League game tonight.
An area outside the ground was evacuated and video online showed flames and smoke coming from the stand, which is located near the players’ entrance.
The blaze started shortly before 6pm, close to where the team had been due to enter the stadium at around 6.30pm.
Firefighters were on the scene within minutes and the blaze has since been brought under control.
Supporters had gathered in the area for a pre-match entertainment show that included on-stage interviews with their new January signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
The show had already begun with women’s players Rebecca Knaak and Aemu Oyama on stage at the time of the blaze.
The event was suspended as flames took hold of the stand and stewards moved fans away before fire services arrived on the scene.
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At 6.22pm, it was announced that the stadium and fans could enter, but three entrance gates inside the cordoned-off area near the scene of the blaze were still shut.
It is unknown at this stage whether the incident will affect the scheduled kick-off time of 8pm.
City face Club Brugge as the new-look league phase of the Champions League reaches its conclusion tonight.
City, who are 25th in the standings, must win the game to make the knockout play-offs.
The remainder of the pre-match show was cancelled.
City said in a statement: “Emergency services are present at the scene and the fire has now been extinguished.
“The safety of all attending the match tonight is our top priority, and as such all events planned for West Stand reception have been cancelled, including the welcome event for new players, and the first team arrival.”
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