United fans turn derby day into ownership protest

Thousands of Manchester United supporters protested against the club's ownership inside and outside Old Trafford before Sunday's derby with Manchester City. BBC Sport

The noise started early. Outside the ground, fans let off flares after a call to gather from the 1958 Group, a well-known supporters' group. Others marched through the Munich tunnel, the road that runs underneath the stadium.

Inside, the usual colour was gone. The Red Army, the vocal section behind the goal, chose not to bring its normal banners. Instead it hung a single message above the players' tunnel: "The way you treat us is a disgrace." The only other banners on show were those put up by the club itself.

The anger centred on tickets. United has been cracking down on touting, the unauthorised resale of tickets, often at a profit, and on the sharing of season tickets outside the rules. The Guardian Supporters say innocent fans have been caught up in the drive, with protests also linked to season-ticketing issues and prices. Goal

United says its investigation led to 685 fan accounts being banned, with a further 464 sanctioned or warned. Another 468 cases were closed with no further action after supporters explained the activity that had been flagged.

Much of the chanting was aimed directly at Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club's minority owner. Ratcliffe was at Old Trafford for the game and heard the songs himself.

The protest also touched on money off the pitch. Including outstanding transfer fees, United's debt stands at more than £1bn. The club's planned new stadium is expected to cost well over £2bn. Full-year accounts to 30 June 2026 will be published on 23 September.

What made the day different was the staging. Derby days at Old Trafford are usually about noise for the team. This one carried noise against the boardroom too, before a ball was kicked and long after the flares had faded.