- By Simon Stone
- ` Sport at Old Trafford
April 30, 2023 at 15:19 CET
Updated 41 minutes ago
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Manchester United fans marched from the city center to the club’s Old Trafford stadium
Manchester United fans, opposed to Glazer’s continued ownership of the club, protested against Aston Villa at their side’s home game.
About 1,000 United supporters gathered in Manchester city center before marching to Old Trafford.
The 1958 fan group also asked fans to wait outside for the first 18 minutes of the game, in a nod to 18 years of Glazer ownership.
“We’ve been protesting since 2005 and we’ve had enough,” said one fan.
The march appeared to be peaceful, with protesters carrying banners and chanting anti-glazer songs, some doing so outside the directors’ entrance as the game began.
When asked if the anger in the background could complicate the situation for his team, manager Erik ten Hag said: “We really felt that the fans had our back.
“There’s a lot of energy and I think a really strong bond between the fans and the players.”
Derby defender Curtis Davies missed the start of his expert commentary for ` Radio 5 Sports Extra as he became involved in the protest and was only let in when the crowd dispersed after 18 minutes.
“It was a mess. I got down and was about to go through the Munich Tunnel, where the media entrance is, saw flares and about 1,000 Manchester United fans and couldn’t see a way in,” he said.
“I spoke to a steward about stepping onto the floor to do my work today but they had it closed.”
The protest came as the Glazers were considering respective bids from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group to buy the club.
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim wants to take 100%, while British businessman Ratcliffe is willing to reduce his stake from 69% to 51%.
That reduction would allow co-chairs Joel and Avram Glazer to remain at the club – something protesting fans oppose.
Manchester United have not commented on the protests but have previously said they “respect the right of fans to peacefully express their views”.
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