Man Utd fans protested against the club's controversial changes to tackle ticket touting ahead of the Manchester derby.
United fans protested before the derby
United fans protested before the derby
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Manchester United fans protested against the club's controversial operation to tackle ticket touting before the Manchester City clash on Sunday afternoon.
The protest started at the Bishop Blaize pub near Old Trafford. The demonstration then made its way along Sir Matt Busby Way before reaching the Old Trafford forecourt. Police initially estimated around 500 fans took part in the protest, but more fans joined as it moved toward the stadium.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family were targeted throughout the protest, with fans demanding change at the head of the club.
United published an update on their ticket touting investigation two days before the derby, announcing that 685 fans had been stripped of their season tickets, and 464 fans had been either sanctioned or warned.
The club said it had "broken up large-scale organised networks", but some fans who have faced sanctions have maintained they are innocent of wrongdoing.
Tom Goodall, 37, told the M.E.N the protest was a result of fans feeling 'marginalised.'
"We've been marginalised as match-going fans," he said. "A lot of the people who got accused of touting just gave up with their appeals because they just fell out of love. They were being discriminated against.
"Mood is really low. It doesn't even feel like the season's started for United. If you want your atmosphere to be loud and behind the players, then you need to be behind the whole club."
Andrew, 22, added: “It’s unfair, we give them our hard-earned money and they take our tickets away from us. They're not treating us right at the end of the day."
86-year-old fan Bobby Nevitt was critical of the Glazers' handling of the club over the years: “The Glazers have been disgraceful since they’ve come in,” he said. "I've got a couple of friends who were sent a message and they were very upset because they haven't done anything like that. They're out of order, they aren't treating the fans with respect."
Manchester United fan Bob Nevitt
Manchester United fan Bob Nevitt
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United fan group The 1958 organised the protest and declared that 'a line has been crossed'. Their statement announcing the demonstration read: "United supporter groups are being called upon to all stand together following reports of bans and season ticket sanctions without clear and compelling evidence always being presented.
“For generations, match-going Reds have given their time, money and loyalty to Manchester United, home and away. That loyalty deserves to be treated with respect.”
It may be Manchester derby day, but there was no Stretford End flag display. The TRA instead unfurled a single banner above the tunnel reading: “THE WAY YOU TREAT US IS A DISGRACE."