In a scene eerily reminiscent of rioters storming the Capitol Building, the Liverpool vs. Manchester United had to be postponed on Sunday after protesters breached security and stormed the pitch at Old Trafford. Only this time the mob’s discontent was fueled by politics of a different sort.
The Glazer family has been at the helm of Manchester United since the early 2000’s when Malcolm Glazer spearheaded a takeover bid and subsequent share buy out from other stakeholders. The Glazers, who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have enjoyed a tumultuous relationship with supporters of the club over the years. Matters recently reached a boiling point when Man. U. was linked to the formation of a European “Super League” with other soccer powerhouses across the continent.
Current owner Joel Glazer issued an open letter statement to fans in the aftermath of the Super League debacle apologizing for the club’s role in the matter, however this did little to appease fans who have never truly supported the Glazers’ ownership of the historic club.
This recent demonstration comes on the heels of an earlier protest outside the club’s training facility. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward recently announced he will be stepping down from his role with the organization at the end of the year. This ceremonial beheading did little to sway supporters who planned Sunday’s events to continue to put pressure on the Glazer family to sell the franchise (something the Glazers aren’t currently contemplating).
Yet what began as a peaceful gathering of roughly 1000 supporters outside the Lowry Hotel where the team was staying, came off the rails quickly when the demonstration moved to Old Trafford. At the stadium, which has been home to the club since 1910, a group of protesters managed to tear down a section of fencing allowing entry to the field area. From there, the scene quickly became chaotic and local officials had more than their hands full trying to restore order.
League officials were quick to denounce the actions and postpone the game. The match which was scheduled to kick off at 11:30am ET has yet to be rescheduled.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @dynessports