Ferguson was inside the ground about two hours before the 3:30 p.m. kick-off when he began to feel unwell. Medical staff attended to him in the tunnel area, which was cleared of other personnel, before he was transported by ambulance to hospital. Host broadcaster Sky Sports reported that Ferguson was conscious and had received precautionary checks. The BBC stated that the situation was not an emergency. Club officials are optimistic that Ferguson will soon be well enough to return home.
A person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press that Ferguson was taken to hospital as a precaution and was “okay.” A separate source close to Ferguson described his condition to the Press Association as “OK.”
Ferguson had been pictured at the stadium earlier in the day, meeting guests including cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra, who posted a photo on social media saying it was “a privilege, honour and dream come true” to spend time with Ferguson before the game.
This medical episode comes nearly eight years after Ferguson underwent emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage in May 2018. Doctors later told him that five brain haemorrhages occurred that day. Three people with the same condition died. Two, including Ferguson, survived. He made a full recovery and returned to Old Trafford to a standing ovation in September 2018.
Ferguson has remained a regular at United matches since his retirement in 2013, despite his paid ambassadorial role being cut by minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe in 2024 as part of a cost-saving exercise. His attendance has continued both at home fixtures and occasionally at away games.
On the pitch, United secured a 3-2 win over Liverpool to guarantee a top-five finish and a place in next season’s Champions League. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring before Benjamin Sesko added a second. Liverpool fought back after the break through Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, but Kobbie Mainoo’s 77th-minute goal sealed the victory for Michael Carrick’s side. The result ended United’s two-year absence from Europe’s elite competition.
During the first half, supporters in the stands sang “Every single one of us loves Sir Alex Ferguson,” a tribute to the man who led the club for nearly 27 years.
Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups, and four League Cups during his tenure at Old Trafford, making him one of the most successful managers in football history. His 1998-99 team remains the only English side to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in a single season until Manchester City matched the treble in 2023.
As of late Sunday, no further official update on Ferguson’s condition had been released by Manchester United.