Manchester United bans fans from bringing tablet devices to Old Trafford

Published Aug. 12, 2014 12:45 p.m. ET

foxsports

MANCHESTER, England --

Manchester United is banning fans from bringing iPads and other tablet devices into Old Trafford this season. The Premier League club says the policy change will ''ensure the continued safety and security of all spectators.''

Soccer fans increasingly are using iPads and similar devices to take photographs and videos in stadiums, raising concerns that matches could be filmed and copyright laws could be broken. No other English club is believed to have introduced such measures.

Before Tuesday's game against Valencia, United fans received an email explaining that the list of prohibited items for match days now includes ''large electronic devices,'' laptops and tablets among them.