Old Trafford shaken, Man United faces turbulent times

Man United fans have once more shown their peak frustration, as thousands gathered to protest outside Old Trafford before the clash with Fulham.

The focal point of this protest wave comes from the fan group called The 1958, who openly demand the club’s leadership to implement five urgent changes if they want to avoid seeing Man United continue to slide deeper into crisis.

The demonstration drew special attention as many participants wore clown masks, a sarcastic message aimed directly at Sir Jim Ratcliffe – the new owner from the Ineos group. Two weeks earlier, The 1958 shocked many by labeling Ratcliffe as an “incompetent clown” in their official statement. Although they have protested the Glazer family multiple times before, this is the first time this fan group has organized a march specifically targeting Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Speaking to SunSport, Steve Crompton, a representative of the protest organizers, did not hesitate to criticize Man United’s current management model as “hopeless.” According to Crompton, the core issue of the club is not just the on-field performance but also the loss of the fans’ identity and culture, which once made Man United a dominant name in English and European football.

One of The 1958’s biggest demands is to protect fans’ rights to attend matches. Crompton pointed out that the “Red Army” section has been continuously reduced, and even the TRA area is no longer properly recognized, which he called “shameful.” Alongside this is the challenge of matchday ticket prices. Reports say members almost cannot buy regular tickets on Man United’s official website, while service tickets are widely sold at prices starting from £300, a figure too high for most traditional supporters.

Besides cultural and ticket price issues, The 1958 also demands that Man United’s leadership stop the constant coaching changes. Crompton said that each firing and hiring of a new coach costs tens of millions of pounds, and ultimately, the fans are the ones who “pay the bill” for this inconsistency. Additionally, the fan group calls on the club to disclose a clear strategy to handle the massive debt, rather than continuing to avoid it or making vague promises.

Previously, The 1958 canceled plans to protest at the season opener in August due to internal divisions among over 95,000 members, with many believing Ineos needed more time to prove its capability. However, according to Crompton, “that period has shown things have actually worsened.” He bluntly stated that Man United has regressed since Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over football operations, and “too many people involved in management have caused chaos.”

Nevertheless, Man United still managed to bring some joy to fans at the stadium when MU secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham, with Benjamin Sesko scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. However, this result is unlikely to ease the growing discontent, as Man United’s future remains highly uncertain both on and off the pitch.