Will Sir Alex Ferguson intervene as Man United fans vent anger at owners?
Given fans' high regard for him, it will be interesting to see if the former manager gets involved, says Sky's Martha Kelner.
Sunday 2 May 2021 20:24, UK
The European Super League has awoken a sleeping anger in English football.
We saw it outside Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, we saw it outside Arsenal's Emirates stadium, and we're seeing it outside Manchester United's Old Trafford.
It may have lasted a mere 56 hours but the ill-conceived, ill-fated, failed breakaway competition has started a fire and it's ripping through the game.
A core of fans has opposed the Glazer family since they took over at Manchester United in 2005, prompting a phoenix club, FC United, the Green and Gold movement - whereby fans wear the original club colours - and a resistance to the continued commercialisation of the club.
Sunday's protest forced the postponement of Manchester United versus Liverpool, one of the Premier League's most eye catching fixtures.
Police said about 1,000 protesters gathered at Old Trafford, while another 200 were outside the Lowry Hotel, where the team was staying.
About 100 people "forced entry to the ground", officers added, with "some United staff having to lock themselves in rooms".
Almost exactly 16 years since the Florida-based Glazer family became the majority shareholders, this was the most organised protest against their ownership we have seen.
The European Super League, many believe, was fuelled by the greed of the billionaire owners of six of England's richest clubs alongside European giants, undertaken without consultation with supporters, with a disregard for the game's history and the role football clubs play in the community.
Many Manchester United fans would suggest those themes have characterised the Glazer family's reign at Old Trafford.
The Glazers took on a huge amount of debt when they took over but have failed to pay any of it off, while also taking large dividend payments.
The club has spent hundreds of millions of pounds on superstar signings during their time in charge but, even so, fans would say it hasn't invested in the team, the ground, or training facilities as much as it should have.
They also believe the Glazers and other billionaire football club owners from abroad do not understand the unique relationship football clubs have with their local areas, and run them simply like any other business.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the club's former manager, is approaching deification in the red half of Manchester, but he was actually very defensive of the Glazer family while he was manager.
Even in his statement condemning the European Super League last month, he notably did not mention the Glazers by name.
While he is not on the executive board at Manchester United, it will be interesting to see if he intervenes in the growing revolt against the owners.