Man Utd fans storm Old Trafford in protest against Glazers, kickoff delayed

With anger still simmering over the failed bid by 12 teams to launch a European Super League, fans of Manchester United took the grounds of Old Trafford in protest on Sunday, delaying the much-awaited Man Utd vs Liverpool game.

A single demand united the nearly 200 fans who broke into the stadium: The removal of the Glazer family as owners of the 143-year-old club. The American family, which has owned the club since 2005, is accused by fans of profiteering off the club without being invested in its support base—Joel Glazer had not communicated with supporters since 2005, until he spoke last week about wanting to improve relations with supporters.

While the match against Liverpool was supposed to begin at 9.00pm IST, it has been delayed after the ruckus on the field.

While initially, fans protested outside the stadium, letting off green and gold flares ina reference to the club’s original clolours when it was still “Norton Heath”, around 200 fans later broke through barricades and invaded the pitch before being removed, although some returned.

The attempt to introduce the ESL was the tipping point for many, as fans saw it as a move that would break grass-roots football and create a league of only rich and elite clubs. The idea of the ESL itself lasted only four days, after which many of its clubs backed out of the proposed tournament—which was vociferously opposed by fans and football federations alike.

Update: Manchester United have called off the match against Liverpool.