August 19 – Manchester United fans have announced plans to protest against the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, ahead of Monday’s Premier League showdown with arch rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Anger from United fans towards the Glazers has been exacerbated by the club’s abysmal start to the season, which has seen them lose to Brighton and Brentford, their worst opening to a league season since 1921.
Against that scenario, supporters’ group, The 1958, have released plans to demonstrate ahead of Monday night’s game against Liverpool, who themselves badly need to win after successive draws in their first two games.
Fan protest saw United’s last Premier League game against Liverpool postponed in May 2021, when more than 100 protestors stormed Old Trafford, causing the fixture to be called off.
Although organisers of the latest planned protests have called for them to be lawful, tensions will be running high, with an increased police and security presence for arguably the most high-profile game in English football.
“A game that will have the eyes of the world watching, a game for United fans to come together and show the world our deep discontent for this vile ownership,” a statement by the group said. “An ownership that is systematically starving and killing the greatest football institution in world football, for greed.”
“We cannot allow this to happen any longer! This is not about division, this is about unity. All United fans have the right to protest with the 1958 or individually. It is not about confrontation. Anything else plays completely into the Glazers hands.”
Meanwhile the official Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) says any new owner of the club must be willing to invest heavily to restore their former glory
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has expressed an interest in buying the club after Bloomberg reported the Glazers would consider selling a minority stake.
“Speculation is mounting about a potential change of ownership or new investors at Manchester United. Whilst supporters have called for change, of course this has to be the right change,” MUST said in a statement.
“Any prospective new owner or investor has to be committed to the culture, ethos and best traditions of the club. They have to be willing to invest to restore United to former glories, and that investment must be real new money spent on the playing side and the stadium.”
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