Manchester United have issued a statement in response to the protest at Old Trafford and the team hotel on Sunday.
The protests demonstrated that peaceful direct action is sufficient and it’s also easy enough to prevent games going ahead.
Something we could take from the weekend is, it doesn’t matter how many shirts you sell if you can’t play the games. The Daily Mail reported last week that United’s largest sponsor Adidas have been left unhappy with the club over falling shirt sales. Ouch!
United, however, are too busy trying to change the narrative of yesterday’s protests.
Yes, a few idiots threw bottles, but for the most part United fans were excellent. The Glazers have always viewed the club as a commercial cash cow and we expected some PR to show they take offence to facing the music.
16-years of ignoring fans, with a ‘poor us’ statement to show for it, as follows via ManUtd.com:
“Following events yesterday, while many fans wanted to exercise their right to protest and express their opinion peacefully, some were intent on disrupting the team’s preparation and the game itself, as evidenced by activity at the Lowry Hotel and at the stadium.
“Reports in mainstream and social media that protesters were able to access the stadium and pitch via a gate opened by club staff are completely incorrect.
“After breaking through barriers and security on the forecourt, some protestors climbed the gates at the end of the Munich tunnel, then forced access to a side door in the stand, before opening an external door that let others through to the concourse area and the pitch.
“A second breach occurred when a protestor smashed the door of a disability access lift, enabling a group to enter the stand.
“The majority of our fans have and will condemn criminal damage, along with any violence towards club staff, police or other fans, and these now become a police matter. The club has no desire to see peaceful protestors punished, but will work with the police to identify those involved in criminal activity, and will also issue its own sanctions to any season ticket holder or member identified, per the published sanctions policy.
“Information on the rescheduling of the game and any possible implication on other fixtures will be announced after discussion and agreement with the Premier League.
“We remain committed to dialogue and engagement with our fans through the Fans Forum and other appropriate channels.”
Take the final three lines with a pinch of salt. We’ll see if it’s true and Joel Glazer responds to MUST’s letter.
There are some great pictures and videos doing the rounds, including one with a Red ‘scoring’ an overhead kick into an empty net at Old Trafford.
I have no doubt that whoever it is will be showing their grandkids in the years to come.
— Red Issue (@RedIssue) May 2, 2021
Read more: Manchester United v Liverpool: Both clubs await news of rearranged fixture
I think Ex pat” UTD fans in Florida namely TAMPA need to protest outside the Glazer shacks” it makes things more personal if the Leeches are getting crap outside their front door,I will email USA Reds to see if protests are going on, and if not, why ?.The point has been made over here, but its stateside that the pressure needs to mount isnt it ?