Thousands of Manchester United fans marched on Old Trafford to protest against the Glazer family ahead of Monday’s win over rivals Liverpool.
Fans are at loggerheads with the controversial owners, with newly formed group ‘The 1958’ leading the last rally against the Americans before kick-off. Fans flocked to the Tollgate pub, half a mile from the stadium, for the planned pre-match rally.
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“United for $ale” read a banner stretched ahead of the crowd that made their way slowly and strongly towards Old Trafford, with more supporters joining them along the way. The banner also featured a picture of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire who last week gave supporters an extra rallying point when he expressed an interest in buying the club.
Another flag’s message read: “We want our club back,” as smoke from flares filled the air and there were plenty of anti-Glazer chants. A heavy police presence monitored the event, which arrived at Old Trafford around 30 minutes before the game.
As the march ended near the Trinity United statue outside the stadium, where hundreds of fans had already gathered, many Liverpool fans were held back in a car park by police to avoid problems.
The demonstration was largely peaceful, although there were some isolated incidents of rockets being thrown at the wall separating the protesters from the Liverpool fans. The trouble was quickly quelled by the police, but the protest took so long to clear up that away fans stayed behind until after kick-off.
Liverpool fans who had arrived at the ground early, however, chanted “Up the Glazers” and removed hundreds of masks of Avram Glazer, United’s executive co-chairman and director. Otherwise, it was remarkably quiet inside the stadium as kick-off approached.
United confirmed the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro before the game and the Brazil international paraded onto the pitch to a mixture of applause and anti-Glazer chants. Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford gave Erik ten Hag their first win since arriving at Old Trafford.