A group of Manchester United fans have decided to postpone a protest against the club's owners that was planned for the start of the Premier League season.
On 17 August, ahead of United's match with Arsenal, 1958 organised a march to Old Trafford, with posters featuring minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe's name.
The 1958 group have staged numerous protests in recent years, mostly targeting the unpopular Glazer majority owners, but the discontent has now spread to Ratcliffe.
The British billionaire, who owns 28.94% of United, has introduced a host of – often unpopular – changes since taking over the club from the Glazers in February 2024.
“Jim Ratcliffe has chosen to ally himself with the Glazers and, in our view, is helping them to stay in power,” a spokesman for the group said last week, adding that Ratcliffe “is not a savior” and “looks like the (red) devil in disguise.”
However, after conducting a survey, the band acknowledged that opinions among fans were divided and now was not the right time to protest.
The statement said: “With our diverse and dedicated fan base, finding the right balance can be challenging. We had to consider the dynamics, the timing, the interests of the fans and the wider implications of protest activity, while also assessing how current and future decisions might impact us as fans.”
“Given the current mood among fans and particularly following recent polls, it is clear that there is no consensus on the future direction of the club under Ratcliffe.
“This rift exists and we believe it would be reckless to risk creating conditions that could lead to a red-on-red conflict both inside and outside the stadium.”
Almost 63% of the nearly 26,000 people surveyed said Ratcliffe and his company Ineos should be held accountable for their decisions through protest action, according to the organisation. However, 68% also thought they should be given more time.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
