Manchester United’s game with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday was postponed after a planned peaceful protest outside the stadium by fans angry with the club’s owners, the Glazers, spilled into chaotic and violent scenes as a group of about 100 broke into the ground, causing criminal damage and forcing some staff to lock themselves into rooms for safety.
The postponement of the Premier League match between the two most storied clubs in English football to an as yet undetermined date was confirmed almost five hours after supporters gathered at the stadium. It adds further uncertainty to United’s fixture list in a week when they are due to play the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Roma, and is the most graphic illustration yet of the breakdown of trust between fans and owners.
Around 1pm a crowd began gathering outside the stadium holding anti-Glazer banners and chanting against the American family, whose longstanding unpopularity with supporters was elevated by their signing up to the now defunct European Super League.
A crowd of around 200 had also gathered at the Lowry hotel in the city centre, where the team stay before matches. At the hotel the United coach was surrounded by supporters before banks of police arrived, while the number at Old Trafford swelled into thousands after 2pm.
With firecrackers being let off and with some carrying flares, a group marched toward the venue’s Munich Tunnel and by 2.30pm security had been breached and the Old Trafford pitch invaded. There, more firecrackers were let off, flares were thrown, one individual was seen swinging on a goal and another grabbed a corner flag, while outside there were clashes with police, with two officers being injured after bottles were thrown, with one suffering a slash to his face and requiring hospital treatment.
Connect with us on our socials: