Pranav Nair
Police officer injured as Manchester United fans storm Old Trafford pitch
According to The Telegraph, Manchester United could find themselves embroiled in an investigation following the scenes outside Old Trafford yesterday.
Fans gathered outside the stadium in thousands to protest the Glazers’ ownership of the club. Some fans eventually stormed the pitch, leading to the match against Liverpool being postponed.
Despite United legend Gary Neville calling the invasion ‘peaceful’, it appears to be far from the case.
As per the report, bottles and barriers were thrown at officers at the scene. One policeman, in particular, needed emergency treatment after receiving a significant slash in his face.
United staff too barricaded themselves in rooms within the stadium as the protestors made their way into the arena. They threw flares at the Sky Sports platform before leaving with ‘balls, corner flags and camera equipment.
There were also clashes outside the ground and a stand-off with police by the Lowry Hotel, where United players were accommodated. This prompted the Greater Manchester Police to deploy additional officers to control the situation.
Fringe elements?
With the stadium security compromised, the decision was made not to go ahead with the game. The match was cancelled following talks between the police, the Premier League, Trafford Council and the clubs.
A member of the Manchester United Supporters Trust admitted that the protest had “been taken over by thugs”. It certainly appears to be the case given that last week’s protests went off without a hitch.
Whether this was a case of overzealous fans or fringe elements planted to sabotage the movement remains to be seen. While we agree that the fans have the right to protest, resorting to violence will only hamper the movement than aid it.
More Manchester United News
- Manchester United legend Gary Neville comes to the aid of protestors involved in ‘peaceful’ defiance
- Fan protest: Manchester United fans invade Old Trafford pitch amid clamour against the Glazers increases
- Dimitar Berbatov warns Edinson Cavani against a difficult situation at Manchester United
The Football Association will also launch an investigation into the postponement and will liaise with the police and the Premier League in the coming days.
GMP assistant chief constable Russ Jackson called the protests ‘reckless’ and ‘dangerous’. He admitted that an investigation is already underway.
