Man Utd supporters' group The 1958 were planning to demonstrate against Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos prior to this weekend's opening-day match vs Arsenal.
The 1958 fan group protest against Man Utd's ownership group last season.
The 1958 fan group protest against Man Utd's ownership group last season.
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester United supporters' group The 1958 have announced that they will be scrapping their plans to protest against Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos prior to this weekend's opening-day fixture against Arsenal.
The fan group who have been responsible for a number of protests against the Glazers in recent years announced last week that they were planning to hold their first against Ratcliffe on the opening-game weekend. The British petrochemicals billionaire has come under scrutiny since arriving at the club and strengthening the Glazers' hand at the club by purchasing minority shares in the Reds.
Ratcliffe has also been responsible for a number of controversial cost-cutting measures which have included major redundancies and the reallocation of long-standing season ticket holders. However, in a statement first reported by PA, The 1958 confirmed the protest has been postponed due to a split within their membership.
"With a fanbase as diverse and passionate as ours, finding the right balance isn't always easy," they explained.
"We've had to consider momentum, timing, fan appetite, broader consequences of protest activity while assessing how current and future decisions may impact us as fans.
"Given the current sentiment within the fan-base and particularly in light of these recent survey results, it's clear there's no unified view on the direction of the club under Ratcliffe. That split is real, and we believe it would be irresponsible to risk creating a situation that could result in any 'red on red' conflict inside or outside the stadium."
The 1958 also confirmed - in a poll of nearly 26,000 members - 63 per cent agreed that Ratcliffe should be held accountable by means of protest. However, 68 per cent also believed Ratcliffe and Ineos should be given more time to make their impression.
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