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Picture being invited to sit next to Sir Alex Ferguson in the United dugout in the middle of a crucial European match. What would you do?

To 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 extraordinary decision: a perfect yet wet shooting position or a spot in the stands between Ferguson and his assistant Brian Kidd.

As the pioneering woman photographer to gain Premier League accreditation, remarkable situations were all in a day's work. She chose the dugout.

'Take a Seat Next to Us'

Following a scoreless first leg in Manchester, the second match in Russia was as unpredictable as the weather. Haroun describes witnessing rain like it. Her equipment was soaking, and her cameras were on the verge of failing.

Noticed by Ferguson in the second half, he asked, "You must be a bit wet?" before telling her to "Sit between Kiddo and myself." She passed the rest of the match there, though she would have preferred behind the goal for better shots.

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

Preparing her flash, she thought Ferguson would be annoyed. As expected, the manager looked at her and warned, "If you take that picture, I'll never speak to you again!"

'My Gender Made Me a Target'

Regardless of her long-standing family connections to Manchester United—including relatives having served as directors—Haroun's path as a woman in a male-dominated field was far from easy.

She found it tough to be respected and felt she was frequently "picked on" by security and police as the "easiest target." This came to a head with an arrest at a volatile Leeds vs. Manchester United match, where fan trouble broke out.

"It was me 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 physical risks. Haroun was once "rendered unconscious" by missiles thrown by supporters at an Aston Villa match in Turkey.

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

Yet, players could also be helpful. Before an Arsenal match, she asked legend Ian Wright to run towards her if he scored. He scored, but initially ran the wrong way.

To her relief, Wright realised, halted, turned back, and ran towards her with a triumphant yell, creating the "perfect picture" she had hoped for.

A Cat Named Carrington

Away from football, Haroun is a dedicated cat lover. Her collection of seven cats on one occasion grew thanks to an surprise 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 recognisable gruff voice came on the line and instructed her: "Magi, take the cat!"

Heeding Sir Alex Ferguson's command, she adopted the cat and christened her Carrington.