Manchester United v Liverpool postponed after fans invade Old Trafford in protest

• Two police officers injured in ugly clashes
• Thousands of supporters gather outside Old Trafford

Jamie Jackson
@JamieJackson___
Sun 2 May 2021 21.54 BST

Manchester United’s game with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday was postponed after a planned peaceful protest outside the stadium by fans angry with the club’s owners, the Glazers, spilled into chaotic and violent scenes as a group of about 100 broke into the ground, causing criminal damage and forcing some staff to lock themselves into rooms for safety.

The postponement of the Premier League match between the two most storied clubs in English football to an as yet undetermined date was confirmed almost five hours after supporters gathered at the stadium. It adds further uncertainty to United’s fixture list in a week when they are due to play the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Roma, and is the most graphic illustration yet of the breakdown of trust between fans and owners.

Around 1pm a crowd began gathering outside the stadium holding anti-Glazer banners and chanting against the American family, whose longstanding unpopularity with supporters was elevated by their signing up to the now defunct European Super League.

A crowd of around 200 had also gathered at the Lowry hotel in the city centre, where the team stay before matches. At the hotel the United coach was surrounded by supporters before banks of police arrived, while the number at Old Trafford swelled into thousands after 2pm.

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Man U fans force unprecedented PL postponement over protests

By ROB HARRIS
May 2, 2021

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — In an unprecedented moment for the world’s richest soccer competition, the Premier League was forced to abandon one of the biggest matches of the season after an invasion of Old Trafford by Manchester United fans.

The storming of the stadium — shut to fans during the pandemic — came hours before United was due to host Liverpool. As fans protested on the field against United’s owners — the Glazer family — flares were set off and thousands more supporters filled the concourse outside Old Trafford.

Ugly scenes erupted as police clashed with supporters who are enraged by 16 years of lack of engagement by the Glazers which peaked with their decision to take United into a breakaway European Super League which collapsed two weeks ago inside 48 hours.

The players didn’t even attempt to make it to the stadium, with United’s squad unable to leave its central Manchester hotel due to another outbreak of protests.

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