“The way you treat us …”: INEOS and Glazers to be shamed by dramatic fan display vs Man City | OneFootball

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Manchester United supporters will remove all flags from the Stretford End and display a giant banner criticising the club’s hierarchy during Sunday’s derby against Manchester City.

The protest follows the anti-ticket-touting investigation which saw 685 supporters stripped of their season tickets, with another 464 sanctioned.

United’s season-ticket investigation

United identified 1,617 accounts showing what the club considered “unusual activity” and requiring further examination.

However, 468 cases were resolved after the supporters involved supplied evidence which satisfactorily explained their behaviour.

Regular match-goers have criticised how the process was communicated and believe innocent supporters were caught up in the crackdown. The episode has contributed to a growing sense of mistrust between sections of the fanbase and the club.

The 1958 supporters’ group had already organised demonstrations ahead of the Manchester derby. The Red Army, one of United’s biggest fan organisations, has now outlined how the protest will be taken inside Old Trafford.

Stretford End banner carries stark message

The Telegraph’s James Ducker reported that the usual Stretford End flag display will be withdrawn and replaced by a banner above the players’ tunnel carrying the message: “THE WAY YOU TREAT US IS A DISGRACE”.

The Red Army said: “This isn’t a ‘TRA’ message, it’s a message on behalf of every genuine fan group, match-going supporter, supporters’ club and fan representative who has either contacted us directly or been negatively impacted by the recent behaviour of the club.”

The organisation described the banner as an “honest, heartfelt cry for recognition” from United’s generational match-going support.

Despite its protest against the hierarchy, the group stressed that it would continue backing the team and manager during the derby.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe faces mounting supporter criticism

United supporters have protested against the Glazer family’s ownership for years, but influential minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also coming under increasing scrutiny from match-going fans.

Tensions have been fuelled by the introduction of costly ticket prices without prior communication and the removal of supporters from the lower south stand to create space for corporate hospitality.

The Red Army believes the difficulties extend beyond United and amount to a league-wide threat to traditional fan culture. It has called for match-going supporters to be prioritised within the club’s fan-engagement structure.

The group also wants the Fans’ Forum process reviewed, with dedicated representatives who communicate regularly with match-going supporters and press their concerns inside the club.

It warned: “Unless our generational match-going support is given a real voice that is actually listened to, the little that remains of our fan culture will soon be gone forever.”

Sunday’s derby will therefore provide a prominent stage for the dispute. The absence of the familiar Stretford End flags, coupled with the blunt banner above the tunnel, should ensure the supporters’ message is difficult for United’s decision-makers to ignore.

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