🔗 Share this article

Picture receiving an invitation to take a seat beside Sir Alex Ferguson in the Manchester United dugout during a pivotal European match. How would you react?

For photographer the lenswoman, this became a reality on a storm-lashed night in Moscow in 1992. Soaked from the sideways rain, she was faced with an extraordinary decision: a perfect but soggy vantage point or a spot in the stands flanked by Ferguson and his assistant Brian Kidd.

As the first female photographer to gain Premier League accreditation, unusual situations were par for the course. She opted for the dugout.

'Take a Seat Next to Us'

Following a scoreless first leg in Manchester, the return fixture in Russia was as unpredictable as the weather. Haroun recalls never seeing rain that severe. Her equipment was drenched, and her cameras were on the verge of breaking down.

Spotted by Ferguson in the second half, he called out, "You must be a bit wet?" before telling her to "Come between Kiddo and myself." She passed the rest of the match there, though she admitted she'd rather be behind the goal for superior shots.

After another 0-0 draw, United lost on penalties. Centre-back Gary Pallister, who failed to convert the decisive kick, was seen crying into his shirt. Looking towards the dugout, he presented Haroun with a perfect front-page image.

With her flash ready, she knew Ferguson would be annoyed. As expected, the manager looked at her and warned, "Do that, I'll never speak to you again!"

'My Gender Made Me a Target'

Despite her deep family ties to Manchester United—including relatives having served as chairmen—Haroun's journey as a woman in a overwhelmingly male field was far from easy.

She found it tough to be taken seriously and believed she was frequently "picked on" by security and police as the "weakest link." This came to a head with an arrest at a volatile Leeds vs. Manchester United match, where crowd trouble erupted.

"I was the one that got arrested because they saw me as the weakest link, I'm a woman," she said.

Try to Run the Wright Way

Proximity to the pitch came with very real risks. Haroun was on one occasion "knocked out" by missiles thrown by supporters at an English club match in Turkey.

The hazard wasn't limited to the players themselves. Shots from stars like Wayne Rooney and Denis Irwin at times left her dazed. After one such incident, Bryan Robson reportedly quipped, "If you're going to kill a photographer, Denis, make sure it's not the chairman's cousin!"

However, players could also be helpful. Before an Arsenal match, she told legend Ian Wright to celebrate her if he scored. He scored, but at first ran the opposite way.

To her relief, Wright remembered, halted, turned back, and ran towards her with a triumphant yell, allowing for the "ideal picture" she had hoped for.

A Feline Named Carrington

Away from football, Haroun is a known feline enthusiast. Her family of multiple cats on one occasion grew thanks to an surprise call from a long-serving staff member at Manchester United's Carrington training ground.

Informed of an stray cat, Haroun was hesitant—she was caring for 23 at the time. However, a familiar Scottish voice came on the line and instructed her: "Magi, take the cat!"

Following Sir Alex Ferguson's command, she took in the cat and christened her Carrington.