A group of Manchester United fans is asking supporters to wear black at a protest before this weekend’s game against Arsenal. They want to highlight how the club is “slowly dying” under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers.
Fans have been expressing their frustration as the club faces tough times, recently announcing 200 job cuts, following another 250 layoffs last year.
The club’s debt is around £731 million, plus an additional £300 million in transfer fees owed. Manager Ruben Amorim has stated that the club will need to sell players before they can buy new ones this summer, illustrating the dire situation.
Ticket prices have also risen to £66, angering fans who protested during the team’s FA Cup loss to Fulham last Sunday. They criticized Ratcliffe for “exploiting our loyalty” and displayed banners saying, “your debt, not ours.”
Now, the fan group known as the 1958 group is calling for supporters to join their protest by wearing black this weekend. They warned that the club is facing “financial armageddon” and that Manchester United has become a laughing stock.
“The club is slowly dying before our eyes, on and off the pitch, and the blame lies with the current ownership,” the group stated. They compared the current crisis to the club’s darkest days, saying, “Sir Matt Busby would be turning in his grave at the current plight of one of the world’s greatest football institutions.”
They urged fans to unite and protest against the Glazers and the club’s treatment of its supporters. “This is more than just a club to us. We are more than just a number on a seat,” they added.
Behind the scenes, the problems continue, with coaches reportedly limited to soups and sandwiches in the canteen as Ratcliffe implements cuts after five years of financial losses. Last week, Amorim suggested that the players are partly to blame for the club’s situation, emphasizing the need to address the team’s lack of success.
-Mirror
