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A32 sports
Diamars 23 augustus 2022
Angry Man United fans protesting ahead of Liverpool game
(AP) — Thousands of the club under its Ameri- mier League game against started.
Manchester United fans can owners took part in a Liverpool on Monday.
angry at the direction of protest ahead of the Pre-
The supporters chanted That protest was sparked by
against the Glazer family — the club's involvement in
"We want Glazers out" — and the failed European Super
held banners calling for the League breakaway that col-
Americans to sell United as lapsed amid a groundswell of
they walked from a nearby condemnation from fans and
pub to the club's storied Old the British government.
Trafford stadium during the
hour before kickoff of one of The Glazers pledged to re-
the biggest matches in Eng- build trust with United fans
lish soccer. in the wake of that protest but
there has been little evidence
Many supporters around the of that. Joel Glazer, a co-
ground were wearing green- chairman, met in person with
and-gold scarves — the col- United fans in June 2021 and
ors of the club's 1878 forma- outlined his intentions to in-
tion — and some also set off vest heavily in all aspects of
flares. There appeared to be the club and strengthen fan
a robust police presence on representation in the deci-
Sir Matt Busby Way at the sion-making process.
entrance to the stadium fore-
court. Last week, Jim Ratcliffe,
The players from both teams, the majority shareholder of
including United's Cristia- chemical group Ineos and
no Ronaldo, arrived at the one of Britain's richest peo-
ground before the protest ple, expressed an interest in
buying United, soon after
Elon Musk tweeted — jok-
Discontent has soared fol- ingly, as it turned out — that
lowing United's poor start he wanted to do the same.
to the season, which has United won the last of its re-
seen the team lose both of cord 20 English league titles
its games — 2-1 at home to in 2013, the year manage-
Brighton and a 4-0 humilia- rial great Alex Ferguson re-
tion at Brentford. tired. In recent years, two of
The target of the majority of United's biggest rivals, Man-
the anger is the Glazer fam- chester City and Liverpool,
ily, which bought United in have dominated the domestic
2005 with a leveraged take- game.
over that loaded debt onto a
club which previously didn't United hasn't won a ma-
have any. Critics say the Glaz- jor trophy in five seasons,
ers, who also own the NFL's its worst run since the early
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have 1980s, despite the club hav-
failed to invest enough of ing spent $1.5 billion on
their own cash in the squad players since 2013.
or facilities and have presided
over years of failure by Eng- United's latest signing, Brazil
land's biggest team. midfielder Casemiro, arrived
at Old Trafford earlier Mon-
Payments on interest, debt day ahead of the Liverpool
and dividends to the Glaz- match and was introduced to
ers are estimated to have cost fans on the field before kick-
United more than 1 billion off as his transfer was being
pounds. confirmed by the club. He is
"They are ruining the history, reportedly costing $60 mil-
traditions and culture of our lion, with the club scram-
great club and (we) will not bling to bring in players in
stand by and watch our club the final days of the transfer
rot away any longer," said window.
The 1958, a fans' group that
arranged Monday's protest. This season has started badly,
too, under Erik ten Hag, its
Dissent toward the owner- fifth manager since Ferguson.
ship, which has simmered There are already question
since the 2005 takeover, marks over the Dutch coach's
erupted in May last year when tactics and team selection.
a home league game against The future of star striker
Liverpool had to be called off Ronaldo is also uncertain af-
after the stadium — empty ter he pushed to leave during
because of pandemic restric- the offseason because United
tions — was stormed before didn't qualify for the Cham-
the game and thousands pions League.
more supporters blocked ac-
cess into Old Trafford. Two Ronaldo was dropped to the
police officers were injured bench against Liverpool,
in clashes with fans. along with club captain Har-
ry Maguire.