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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jamie Jackson

Manchester United supporters planning Glazers protest before Norwich match

Manchester United fans protesting against the club’s owners in May last year before the game against Liverpool which was postponed.
Manchester United fans protesting against the club’s owners in May last year before the game against Liverpool which was postponed. Photograph: Jon Super/AP

A Manchester United fans group is planning a fresh protest against the club’s owners, the Glazer family, when Ralf Rangnick’s side host Norwich City on Saturday and have promised it will not turn into “another Liverpool”.

The 1958 group posted details on social media, with supporters due to meet at the Tollgate hostelry in Stretford at 11am before marching to Old Trafford at 2pm. Those involved asked not to attend the game until 3.17pm – a minute for each year the Glazers have been proprietors.

The planned demonstration on Saturday comes after the renewed protests last year towards the American family, which were reignited by United’s membership of the failed European Super League. Liverpool’s visit to United on 2 May was called off after planned peaceful protests spilled into chaotic scenes as fans broke into the stadium and violence ensued.

Those organising the event on Saturday said: “This isn’t another Liverpool – we believe this was a one‑off unique event. This is the start of constant, relentless, legal and peaceful protests and actions against our owners. We know the challenges ahead of us and we will not waver or detract from these goals. Bring your colours, banners, flags and flares. We need you – we need each other, we need everyone to put aside their differences. Some things are worth fighting for.”

Last year supporters also launched a digital campaign to apply pressure on United’s commercial partners, including a threat to boycott. This caused the club to lose a £200m training kit sponsorship deal with the Hut Group after the local-based company pulled out.

After the Liverpool protest, Joel Glazer announced a fans share scheme as one of the initiatives to try to assuage supporters. Yet nearly a year later, there is no guarantee that will go ahead.

Malcolm Glazer bought United in 2005 and used a leveraged method that loaded a £525m debt on the club, with close to the same amount remaining as of December 2021. When Glazer died in 2014 his six children inherited the club – two of them, Joel and Avram, are co-chairmen.

United are understood to be aware of the protest on Saturday.

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