After the kick-off was initially delayed, Man United vs Liverpool has now been postponed after thousands of fans protested at Old Trafford.
Ahead of Man United’s game against Liverpool, thousands of fans gathered at Old Trafford and the team hotels to protest against the Glazer family.
A few hundred fans even broke through barriers to invade the stadium and they found their way onto the pitch and into the stands.
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The Premier League have released a statement which reads:
“Following the security breach at Old Trafford, the Manchester United vs. Liverpool game has been postponed.
“This is a collective decision from the police, both clubs, the Premier League and local authorities.
“The security and safety of everyone at Old Trafford remains of paramount importance. We understand and respect the strength of feeling but condemn all acts of violence, criminal damage and trespass, especially given the associated COVID-19 breaches. Fans have many channels by which to make their views known, but the actions of a minority seen today have no justification.
“We sympathise with the police and stewards who had to deal with a dangerous situation that should have no place in football.
“The rearrangement of the fixture will be communicated in due course.”
BREAKING: Manchester United’s match against Liverpool has been postponed after fans invaded the pitch at Old Trafford in a protest against the club’s owners.
Latest: https://t.co/Tt56HyPtns pic.twitter.com/OTXIkbjiBJ
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 2, 2021
Man United have published their own statement and they insist that “safety and security” concerns were the reason for the postponement:
“Following discussion between the Police, the Premier League, Trafford Council and the clubs, our match against Liverpool has been postponed due to safety and security considerations around the protest today.
“Discussions will now take place with the Premier League on a revised date for the fixture.
“Our fans are passionate about Manchester United, and we completely acknowledge the right to free expression and peaceful protest.
“However, we regret the disruption to the team and actions which put other fans, staff, and the police in danger. We thank the police for their support and will assist them in any subsequent investigations.”
“Liverpool Football Club was in full agreement with the decision to postpone today’s fixture as a result of ongoing events at Old Trafford and the surrounding area.
“It is our position that public safety must be the number one factor in any such decision, with the ability to provide a secure environment for the participants, staff and officials being a particular priority.
“It was clearly not possible for this to be guaranteed today due to a situation which escalated rapidly.
“We will continue to have dialogue with Manchester United, the Premier League and the local authorities to find a suitable date to reschedule.”
BBC Sport reporter Gary Flintoff has said that some of the fans went too far with their protests:
“The fans are entitled to their voice and they’ve certainly made their voices heard this afternoon. But the statements from the Premier League and Manchester United suggest they feel that a number of fans – not all of them – went too far.”
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