Man Utd fans staged a protest against the club's owners before their game against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
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Updated 16:59, 09 Mar 2025
Manchester United fans have been protesting against the club's ownership
Thousands of Manchester United fans protested against the ownership of their club ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.
A huge crowd gathered outside the Tollgate pub on Talbot Road ahead of a march to the stadium at 3pm. Protesters had been urged to wear black to signify that the football club is dying and despite the warm weather, plenty did so.
Protest chants filled the air well before the protest began. Fans then lined up behind a new banner reading ‘RIP Fan Culture 1878-2025’. Red smoke bombs filled the air and there were plenty of banners demanding the departure of the despised Glazer family, while fans were also critical of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
In true Mancunian spirit, one supporter held up a cardboard sign that simply read ‘Fumin’, while others referenced the debt racked up by the Glazers and another read 'We want our club back. Some things are worth waiting for'.
Police closed Talbot Road ahead of the march and the group made the turn on to Warwick Road where they continued to pick up protestors, with estimates putting the crowd at more than 5,000 by the time it reached Old Trafford, with many more ready to join in as it made its way down the Munich Tunnel.
The protest then gathered around the directors’ box and extra significance was added by the presence of Ratcliffe at the game. The Munich Tunnel was full of supporters around 15 minutes before kick-off, with shutters pulled down at the media entrance and the entrance to the directors' box. Chants again focused on the American family and Ratcliffe's short tenure at the club.
There was particular anger at Ratcliffe's decision to hike unsold tickets to £66 earlier this season, while doing away with concessions.
The protest was the largest since the protest staged before a clash with Liverpool in August 2022 and the first significant demonstration since Ratcliffe's investment.
The Glazers have owned United for 20 years and after the brief hope that Ineos would offer a fresh start a year ago, fans have had all hope stripped away by a year of cutbacks and missteps from Ratcliffe.
Steve Crompton, spokesman for The 1958 group, said: "We are so much in debt, a debt-ridden football club. You can hear them chanting, this is what it’s all about these fans won’t put up with the way the football club are treating us. This club is on its knees, the Glazers have put us there and Ratcliffe isn’t helping. This is to both of them."These people are so committed and passionate to Manchester United. These are the people who are here week in week out, that kid on his dad’s shoulders that’s what it’s all about. We are fighting for the future of our football club."It’s absolutely everything. We’ve got ticket prices, we’ve got them getting rid of concessions. These fans are angry, they hate what’s happening to our football club. This is a community that’s come out today to tell the Glazers and Ratcliffe that we’re not messing about."
Chris Haymes, member of The 1958 group, added: "I agree (this wasn’t supposed to happen when Ratcliffe bought into the club). Sir Jim has to make some tough decisions but he seems to be a shield for the Glazers at the moment. It seems to be a real issue. He had one chance to make a good impression and I am not sure that is what he has done.
"Nothing to do with football and it hasn’t been for 20 years. The way the Glazers bought the club has been a burden on our backs for 20 years. Jim Ratcliffe has been making people redundant but United has also paid £37m to the Glazer debt. The solution is the Glazers leave the club. Jim Ratcliffe will never seal his legacy at this club unless he removes the Glazers. It is as simple as that."