Man United fans protest with tennis balls as side beats Roma 3-2

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 23:20 · Archive

Manchester United fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch during a Champions League match against Roma on Tuesday in a pre-planned protest against the club's ownership. The demonstration, which had been flagged on social media earlier in the day, caused only a brief delay, with the small number of balls from the Stretford End quickly removed by players.

The protest came as United trailed 2-0 after just 17 minutes. The side staged a rousing second-half comeback, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Bruno Fernandes adding a third to secure a 3-2 win.

The protest reflected longstanding fan discontent with American owners the Glazer family, who have been unpopular since their leveraged buyout in 2005. Minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire who bought an initial 25 per cent stake for $1.3 billion in 2024 and assumed control of soccer operations, has also come in for criticism. Supporters have cited the club's on-field problems and increased ticket prices as reasons for their anger. Since Ratcliffe's arrival, the club has fired two coaches, and manager Michael Carrick's position is under intense scrutiny after a troubled start to the season.

How it is being reported

• Protest turns to cheers after Man United fans delayed Champions League tie by hurling tennis ballsManchester United fans have attempted to disrupt the Champions League match against Roma by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch at Old Trafford.News4Jax · 3 Nov, 20:49
• Protest turns to cheers after Man United fans delayed Champions League tie by hurling tennis ballsManchester United fans have attempted to disrupt the Champions League match against Roma by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch at Old Trafford.Clickorlando · 3 Nov, 20:49

In this story: Manchester United · Roma · Glazer family · Jim Ratcliffe · INEOS · Matheus Cunha · Bruno Fernandes · Michael Carrick

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