Dirty TackleManchester United mercifully ban iPads and other tablets from Old Trafford
If you've ever had your view of an event obscured by an inconsiderate buffoon in front of you holding up an iPad to record video for an extended period of time, then you will celebrate Manchester United's decision to ban supporters from bringing tablets into Old Trafford this season. And if you are one of the aforementioned inconsiderate buffoons, then your reign of oblivious terror on the red side of Manchester has come to an end.
The club sent out an email to fans ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Valencia, notifying them of the policy change. From the Manchester Evening News:
“Supporters cannot bring large electronic devices (bigger than 150mmx100mm) inside the stadium.
“For example, ipads or other tablet devices and laptops are now prohibited.
“Also please be aware that large bags, large cameras and liquids (with the exception of a small bottle of water with the top removed) are included in our list of prohibited items.”
Man United are not the first team to ban tablets from their stadium. The New York Yankees banned them from Yankee Stadium in 2010, but overturned the decision in 2012. The Yankees cited safety concerns as the reason for the ban (they didn't want anyone to be injured by "getting distracted and getting hit in the face with a ball"), so they presumably stopped caring about the safety (and sanity) of people attending their games in 2012. Man United, meanwhile, are believed to have instituted their ban to prevent people from "recording large portions of live matches on their tablet devices."
But even if the decision was prompted by the usual mix of greed and paranoia, it's still a victory for all supporters who have paid large sums of money to stare at an Apple logo for 90 minutes.
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is the editor of Dirty Tackle on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him or follow on Twitter! Follow @BrooksDT
