A viral video claimed to show fans brawling at Old Trafford during Manchester United's FA Cup loss to Brighton, as the reality of what was captured on camera has emerged
09:45, 13 Jan 2026Updated 09:51, 13 Jan 2026
Viral video of Manchester United fans brawling
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Viral video of Manchester United fans brawling(Image: X)
The truth behind a viral video claiming to show a brawl at Old Trafford during Manchester United's loss against Brighton has been laid bare.
The Red Devils suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at home in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday, January 11. A clip, which has garnered more than 600,000 views on X emerged online, appearing to show a group of men clashing in the stands.
It alleged the footage was taken at the match on Sunday, but falsely stating that United had lost 2-0. The caption stated: "Man United fans at Old Trafford fighting each other today after losing 2-0 against Brighton." United in fact scored a late goal as they pushed for an equaliser before crashing out of the cup.
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United looks dejected after his team concede their first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on January 11, 2026 in Manchester, England
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Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup(Image: )
The video seemed to depict a man in a red-branded jersey and bucket hat leaning over the barrier, targeting another fan in the stands, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The altercation escalates, spilling further into the stand as another individual intervenes, pushing the pair back. A steward is seen frantically waving for assistance as one fan falls to the ground, while others attempt to break up the chaos.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered the same video had also been posted on the social media platform on December 17.
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United verified the video was, in fact, filmed earlier in the season, with speculation suggesting it may have been captured during a match against Chelsea last year.
The club confirmed that the incident has since been addressed, reiterating that it did not occur during the fixture against Brighton, despite widespread circulation on social media platforms.
One user commented beneath the video: "That's not from today's game..." Another user added: "Anything for clicks I guess, but this was not last night."