Man Utd give clear message to Glazers and Ratcliffe as thousands protest before Arsenal clash

Man Utd fans staged a protest against the club's owners before their game against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Thousands of Manchester United fans protested against the ownership of their club ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal. A huge crowd gathered outside the Tollgate pub on Talbot Road ahead of a march to the stadium at 3pm.

Protesters had been urged to wear black to signify that the football club is dying and despite the warm weather, plenty did so. Protest chants filled the air well before the protest began.

Fans then lined up behind a new banner reading ‘RIP Fan Culture 1878-2025’. Red smoke bombs filled the air and there were plenty of banners demanding the departure of the despised Glazer family, while fans were also critical of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

In true Mancunian spirit, one supporter held up a cardboard sign that simply read ‘Fumin’, while others referenced the debt racked up by the Glazers and another read 'We want our club back.'

Steve Crompton, spokesman for The 1958 group, said: "We are so much in debt, a debt-ridden football club. You can hear them chanting, this is what it’s all about these fans won’t put up with the way the football club are treating us. This club is on its knees, the Glazers have put us there and Ratcliffe isn’t helping. This is to both of them.

"These people are so committed and passionate to Manchester United. These are the people who are here week in week out, that kid on his dad’s shoulders that’s what it’s all about. We are fighting for the future of our football club.

"It’s absolutely everything. We’ve got ticket prices, we’ve got them getting rid of concessions. These fans are angry, they hate what’s happening to our football club. This is a community that’s come out today to tell the Glazers and Ratcliffe that we’re not messing about."