Imagine being invited to sit beside Sir Alex Ferguson in the Manchester United dugout during a crucial European match. How would you react?
For photographer the lenswoman, this wasn't a hypothetical on a torrential night in Moscow in 1992. Drenched from the sideways rain, she was faced with an unlikely decision: a perfect yet wet 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, remarkable situations were par for the course. She chose the dugout.
After a scoreless first leg in Manchester, the second match in Russia was as unpredictable as the conditions. Haroun recalls never seeing rain like it. Her equipment was drenched, and her cameras were on the verge of breaking down.
Spotted by Ferguson in the second half, he asked, "You must be a bit wet?" before instructing her to "Sit between Kiddo and myself." She passed the rest of the match there, though she would have preferred behind the goal for superior shots.
After another 0-0 draw, United lost on penalties. Defender Gary Pallister, who missed the decisive kick, was seen crying into his shirt. Facing the dugout, he presented Haroun with a perfect back-page image.
Preparing her flash, she knew Ferguson would be furious. As expected, the manager glared at her and declared, "If you take that picture, I'll never speak to you again!"
Despite her long-standing family ties to Manchester United—with relatives having served as chairmen—Haroun's path as a woman in a male-dominated field was not always easy.
She found it tough to be taken seriously and felt she was often "singled out" by stewards and police as the "easiest target." The discrimination even led to an incident at a fiery Leeds vs. Manchester United match, where crowd trouble broke out.
"It was me that got arrested because they saw me as the weakest link, I'm a woman," she stated.
Being close to the pitch came with very real risks. Haroun was once "rendered unconscious" by missiles thrown by supporters at an English club match in Turkey.
The hazard also came from the players themselves. Shots from stars like Wayne Rooney and Denis Irwin also sent her sprawling. 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 iconic striker Ian Wright to celebrate her if he scored. He did find the net, but at first ran the wrong way.
Fortunately, Wright realised, halted, turned back, and ran towards her with a triumphant yell, allowing for the "perfect picture" she had hoped for.
Away from football, Haroun is a dedicated cat lover. Her family of seven cats once grew thanks to an unexpected call from the receptionist at Manchester United's Carrington training ground.
Told of an stray cat, Haroun was reluctant—she already had 23 at the time. However, a familiar gruff voice came on the line and ordered her: "Magi, take the cat!"
Heeding Sir Alex Ferguson's command, she adopted the cat and christened her Carrington.
Elara is a passionate writer and photographer who shares insights on creativity and mindful living through engaging storytelling.
