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(CNN)British bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion following the discovery of a "suspect package" at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium ahead of a key soccer game Sunday.
Manchester police later tweeted that they had determined the package was not a "viable" device, but that a full search of the stadium was underway.
United had been due to play its final game of the English Premier League season but ahead of the kickoff two sections of the stadium were evacuated before the match was then abandoned.
"A controlled explosion has just been carried out within the stadium by bomb disposal experts at Old Trafford," said a statement on Greater Manchester Police's Twitter feed.
Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium evacuated
5 photos: Security fears prompt abandonment
Police took the decision to call off the match as a British Army Disposal Unit was deployed to Old Trafford.
The game against Bournemouth could have seen United qualify for next season's Champions League -- European soccer's biggest competition -- if they had won and their local rivals Manchester City had lost away at Swansea.
Manchester police later tweeted that they had determined the package was not a "viable" device, but that a full search of the stadium was underway.
United had been due to play its final game of the English Premier League season but ahead of the kickoff two sections of the stadium were evacuated before the match was then abandoned.
"A controlled explosion has just been carried out within the stadium by bomb disposal experts at Old Trafford," said a statement on Greater Manchester Police's Twitter feed.
Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium evacuated
5 photos: Security fears prompt abandonment
Police took the decision to call off the match as a British Army Disposal Unit was deployed to Old Trafford.
The game against Bournemouth could have seen United qualify for next season's Champions League -- European soccer's biggest competition -- if they had won and their local rivals Manchester City had lost away at Swansea.
