Manchester United Will Be First British Club to Play in Europe Since Soccer Riot

English soccer power Manchester United announced Thursday it will play an exhibition game against AC Milan in Italy April 29, the first time since a ban on English teams was relaxed that a game involving a English club has been arranged on the European mainland.

The ban was imposed by the sport’s European governing body, UEFA, last May after 39 people died during riots at the European Champions’ Cup final between Liverpool of England and Italy’s Juventus at Brussels.

Liverpool’s fans were held mainly responsible, and English clubs are still barred indefinitely from playing in the three European club competitions. But UEFA later modified the ban to exclude exhibitions.

Manchester United’s chairman, Martin Edwards, said the match against Milan originally was arranged as part of the transfer deal involving Ray Wilkins.