Manchester United and Southampton players were evacuated after their under-23s match on Friday night following a security alert that Press Association Sport understands was identified as a false alarm.
Saints won the Premier League 2 fixture against United 1-0 at Leigh Sports Village, where a potential security issue was identified at the end of the match.
Press Association Sport understands that the teams were evacuated per normal security protocols, with the stadium searched by security and the issue identified as a false alarm.
United fan Peter Bolton was at the game and posted on Twitter that the players went straight off the pitch and on to the team coaches in their kit.
He claimed not to have been told anything by stewards but had heard it was a “bomb scare”.
United appointed a full-time counter terrorism manager in 2017, with Old Trafford’s security under increased scrutiny.
The club’s final Premier League match of the 2015-16 season against Bournemouth was called off after what proved to be a fake bomb, left behind following a training exercise, was found in a toilet.
There was another incident in November 2016 when two individuals managed to break off from a stadium tour and stay overnight at Old Trafford ahead of a match with Arsenal.