90min

Man Utd hierarchy concerned about upcoming anti-Glazer protest

By Jamie Spencer

Man Utd are planning another anti-Glazer protest before the Liverpool game at Old Trafford
Man Utd are planning another anti-Glazer protest before the Liverpool game at Old Trafford / James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
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Manchester United have concerns that an anti-Glazer protest, planned by fans outside Old Trafford before Sunday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool, could end up disrupting the game.

Ill-feeling towards the club’s already extremely unpopular American owners have stepped up a level since the recent attempt to join the failed Super League. Co-chairman Joel Glazer, in only his second ever public address to fans and his first since 2005, penned an apology statement. But irate supporters have refused to accept it, viewing it as an empty gesture.

Anger towards the already unpopular Glazer family has increased in light of the failed European Super League venture
Anger towards the already unpopular Glazer family has increased in light of the failed European Super League venture / Michael Regan/Getty Images

Fans are demanding that the Glazer family, who have profited vastly from annual dividends paid out over the years, sell the club. The ideal for many is a supporter-owned club, taking Bayern Munich as a prime example, with all revenue and profit invested back into United.

Around 1,000 fans gathered to protest outside Old Trafford last weekend. There was no game on at the time, but now another pre-planned protest on Sunday prior to kick-off against Liverpool is expected to attract an estimated 10,000 to voice further anger towards the Glazers.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday it is important for fans to be ‘listened to’ and for the club to ‘communicate better’. But the Norwegian has urged those planning to set up camp outside Old Trafford on Sunday to remain ‘peaceful’ as they do it.

According to ESPN, the club has concerns that some of those involved in the protest could try to take things further and disrupt the game itself. Security around Old Trafford will be stepped up for the occasion, but there are fears that fans, in an attempt to bring more attention to the protest, could block the arrival of team coaches to try and delay kick-off or even postpone the game altogether.

The second anti-Glazer protest could attract 10,000 fans to Old Trafford
The second anti-Glazer protest could attract 10,000 fans to Old Trafford / OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has also received significant backlash. The Old Trafford chief has announced his intended resignation by the end of the year. But fans have refused to believe his claims that he is stepping down because he couldn’t support the SL breakaway, largely because Woodward’s resignation was only announced after United had already pulled out.

He appeared before fans at an emergency forum on Friday, reiterating the club’s apology from Joel Glazer, insisting that lessons have been learned and that there will be no attempts from those at Old Trafford to try and resurrect or revive the SL plans in future.

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