Man Utd fans may boycott Liverpool match because of Glazers
Many fans accuse the family, who completed their takeover in 2005, of a lack of investment in the squad and infrastructure.
Manchester United supporters who oppose the Glazer family are threatening to boycott the club’s next home match against Liverpool.
Last season, United’s game against Jürgen Klopp’s side was postponed after hundreds of fans broke into Old Trafford with banners carrying anti-Glazer slogans. Now there is a growing call among the fanbase for supporters to not take their seats in the match against their bitter rivals a week on Monday.
The hashtag #EmptyOldTrafford was trending on Twitter on Wednesday, with more than 55,000 posts dedicated to the proposal, which involves fans remaining outside the stadium for the entire match. In May, Valencia fans conducted a similar protest against their owner Peter Lim. Thousands stood outside their stadium for the final match of the season.
It remains to be seen whether this protest is as successful — some in the past, such as a 58th-minute walkout in 2020, failed to have the desired effect — but there is no doubt that anger towards the Glazers is growing.
Many fans accuse the family, who completed their takeover in 2005, of a lack of investment in the squad and infrastructure.
United’s most recent accounts showed the club’s net debt stands at £495.7 million. The Times revealed on Tuesday that United’s value had slumped by more than £260 million in the decade since the Glazers sold ten per cent of their shares because of a drop in the price.
Thousands took part in a march organised by The 1958, an anti-Glazer supporters’ group, prior to last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. The club have tried to build their relationship with supporters of late. Joel Glazer, the co-chairman, has taken part in fan forums.
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust is also balloting its members on a fans’ share scheme. The loss to Brighton showed the club are in need of reinforcements. They are making progress in their pursuit of the £15 million-rated Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, but will have to wait if they decide to press ahead with a move for Cody Gakpo.
The PSV Eindhoven winger is one of a number of targets, along with Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic, that United are considering after ending their interest in Marko Arnautovic. Antony, their primary target, is unlikely to join unless Ajax lower their £67 million asking price.
PSV have insisted that they will not consider selling Gakpo, whom they value at £35.5 million, until after their Champions League play-off against Rangers. The second leg takes place on August 24.
Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Southampton are also interested in Gakpo, who can play anywhere across the front three. The Holland international admitted that he could stay at PSV if they qualified for the Champions League, which United are not in.
“We must first focus on and try to make it to the Champions League,” Gakpo said. “Then it is more likely that I will stay. I don’t think I have said anywhere that I am leaving. I’m open for a [meeting] with the management. We’ll see how it goes.”
