The 1958 say United are “being dragged through chaos by clown ownership”
Manchester United fans donned clown masks ahead of their latest Premier League game to express their anger at owners the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Fan group The 1958 organised the latest anti-leadership demonstration ahead of United's home clash against Fulham on Sunday 1 February, claiming the club is being "run like a circus".
The Glazers have faced criticism from fans since they took a majority stake of the Red Devils in 2005.
The Glazers took a majority stake in the club in 2005. Credit: ITV News
Sunday's protest saw Sir Jim Ratcliffe - who became a co-owner in February 2024 - also targeted, as fans have expressed their anger at rising ticket prices and availability.
The 1958 spokesperson, Steve Crompton, said: "We want the owners to listen, which is something that's never happened, certainly not since Ineos has come in.
"We want them to listen to match going fans, who they are happily pricing out of even coming to Old Trafford these days, so they need to listen."
Steve said for some upcoming home games, the only seats available are priced as "hospitality" seats, which can start at £300, despite being amongst regularly priced seats in the stadium, a system he described as "criminal".
He said: "If this is the future, your match going fan that has been here through thick and thin - and let's be honest, the football has been horrendous these last 14 months - we seem to be the people being penalised for all their mistakes."
"The club hasn't been run correctly for 21 years since the Glazers took over. Ratcliffe turned round and told us he wanted to put the Manchester back in Manchester United but it's absolutely not happened. Not happened at all."
Fans marched towards Old Trafford from both ends of Sir Matt Busby Way, chanting and holding banners as smoke from flares filled the air, before meeting outside the ground.
Greater Manchester Police estimated there were between 500 and 600 protesters, but no arrests were made.
Police indicated there were between 500 and 600 protesters. Credit: ITV News
The match saw a third straight win for United under Michael Carrick, with a stoppage time winner from Benjamin Sesko, following recent wins over top of the league, Arsenal, and Manchester City.
The protest was announced by the 1958 24 days ago, after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, with the group stressing that the demonstration is about more than what happens on the field.
One fan told ITV News: "We want to progress as a club, we need new ownership. They've been letting us down year after year."
Another - who said he had been going to games for 60 years - said: "Before the Glazers came it was a family club, and a city club and a country club. We would prefer to see the club back in its original state without the Glazers here."