Man Utd fans planning sit-in protest at Manchester derby with ‘powerless’ thousands set to stay behind
A MANCHESTER UNITED fan group is planning a mass sit-in protest at next weekend’s derby.
The action from The 1958 comes amid growing unrest among the Red Devils’ supporters over the club’s ownership.
Thousands of United supporters protested ahead of Arsenal’s visit to Old Trafford earlier this month.
And members of the 1958 continued joined forces with FC United fans at the club’s Broadhurst Park on Saturday.
The Glazer family takeover was the catalyst for the foundation of FC United in 2005, with disgruntled fans leaving Old Trafford behind to form a new club.
The 1958 joined FCUM in their stand against the ownership and current situation around United as part of the first ‘United United Day’ in six years.
Fans linked up in the stands at a Northern Premier League match against Stockton Town.
Another protest will now follow on derby day against reigning Premier League champions City.
Steve Crompton, a spokesman for The 1958, said: “I think probably one of the most impactful [protests] we’ve done was the sit-in.
“We will be running another one of those against City next weekend.”
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The last Old Trafford sit-in was in August 2023, when thousands of fans stayed behind in the stadium following a comeback win against Nottingham Forest.
Next week’s derby is United’s first home match since season ticket price increases were announced by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Some fans have been outraged by large hikes to senior prices, which come after Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting across the club.
Chris Haymes, another member of the group, explained: “We’re going to get people to sit in their seats.
“The Manchester United Supporters Trust did a flash survey and believe there’s going to be about 7,000 concessions, OAP people, who are not going to renew their season tickets.
“So, they’re trying to price them out of their seats, so we’re going to tell you to sit in your seat, stay in your seat.
“That’s your seat that you paid for. You probably have done for last 50 or 60 years. After that game, we’re going to stay in that seat.”
Ratcliffe, 72, broke his silence on the protests in a tell-all interview earlier this month.
Man Utd ratings vs Leicester
MANCHESTER UNITED leapfrogged Tottenham into 13th in the Premier League by beating Leicester.
Rasmus Hojlund was left to run in behind and shoot low into the bottom corner from an angle to open the scoring on 28 minutes.
The Danish striker had not found the net since December 12 – a run of 21 matches.
Alejandro Garnacho saw a goal chalked off for offside but there was no taking his snap-shot finish off him on 67 minutes.
And skipper Bruno Fernandes rounded off the comfortable 3-0 win in style in the closing stages.
The Ineos chief hinted he would step away from the club if he was unable to attend games like the Glazers.
Ratcliffe told The Times: “[Fan protests] can be unpleasant. And I’ve probably failed on the having fun front. I mean, I can put up with it for a while.
“I don’t mind being unpopular because I get that nobody likes seeing Manchester United down where they are, and nobody likes the decisions we’re having to make at the moment.
“Eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I’d have to say, look, enough’s enough guys, let somebody else do this.
“They can’t really come to a match, the Glazers. They’ve retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I’m getting all the bloody stick.
“We bought in and I haven’t seen them since.
“At the moment, I don’t have security, I don’t have to walk around like that.
“But it would defeat the object, wouldn’t it? You couldn’t tolerate it at that level, it just wouldn’t be fun.”