Man United v Liverpool Postponed (Fan Protest) Soccer

[Dylan]

Manchester United's game against Liverpool has been postponed after about 200 fans broke into Old Trafford to protest against the Glazer family's ownership of the club.

The fixture was scheduled to kick off at 16:30 BST on Sunday.
"This is a collective decision from the police, both clubs, the Premier League and local authorities," said the Premier League.

Talks will now take place about re-arranging the game.

Fans had gathered outside the ground and scores of green and gold flares - the colours of United's first shirts when they were Newton Heath, and of the original anti-Glazer protests in 2010 - were set off at 14:00.

The protests follow United's decision, along with five fellow Premier League clubs, to join the European Super League (ESL) last month, before subsequently all pulling out.

Supporters are currently not allowed into grounds because of the coronavirus pandemic but some United fans got on to the Old Trafford pitch to protest and, even though they were removed, some then made it back on to the grass later on.

"The security and safety of everyone at Old Trafford remains of paramount importance," added the Premier League, after calling the game off at just after 17:35.

"We understand and respect the strength of feeling but condemn all acts of violence, criminal damage and trespass, especially given the associated Covid-19 breaches.

"We sympathise with the police and stewards who had to deal with a dangerous situation that should have no place in football."

 

[Dylan]

Good on the fans today, well thought out and organized protest. Blocking the team at the hotel while protesting at the stadium simultaneous and making sure the games is called off.

It was intended to be a clear message and a peaceful one too. I have no issue with disruptive style of protests but when anything leads to people or property being damaged then I draw the line and at times today the protest struggled to contain that level of control 100% of the time but as a whole it worked.

Unfortunately a person has been injured. That facial cut is unacceptable and will leave a lifelong scar, any higher and may have cost the person an eye. News agencies may latch onto that or maybe not but a person was injured at his workplace. A minority of idiots within the group have soured it, otherwise it would have been perfect.

 

[Snoops]

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said "it became clear that many of those present were not intending to exercise their right to peaceful protest" and that "flares were let off and bottles thrown at officers".

They added that protestors getting into the ground meant "some United staff having to lock themselves in rooms".

"Those in the stadium were evicted by officers but outside on the forecourt, hostility grew with bottles and barriers being thrown at officers and horses," said GMP.

"Two officers have been injured with one officer being attacked with a bottle and sustaining a significant slash wound to his face requiring emergency hospital treatment."

GMP assistant chief constable Russ Jackson said: "The behaviour displayed by those at both Old Trafford and the Lowry Hotel was reckless and dangerous.

"We have launched an investigation and we will be working closely alongside partners to ensure we establish the full circumstances surrounding the events and prosecute those responsible."

The chairman of Greater Manchester Police Federation, Stu Berry, said his organisation's thoughts "are with our injured officers" and that it "will be seeking a review of Sunday's operational risk assessment and public order resources" for its members.

"We witnessed appalling scenes - police officers are not punchbags for people protesting for their cause," he said.

"At the end of their shifts, hard-working police officers should be able to go home to their families in one piece. Not be rushed to hospital."

People were calling it a peaceful protest based on what was being reported at the time, obviously as more information came to the fore and the details of police and staff being injured it can no longer be considered a peaceful protest. Whether it was 1, 10 or 100 fans responsible for the criminal behaviour is irrelevant, it began as a peaceful protest but didnt end that way.