One of the leading Manchester United supporters’ groups has urged fans to don black attire for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal as a symbol of their dissatisfaction amid a dreadful campaign on the pitch and uncertainty off it.
United are languishing in 14th place in the table, 14 points off the top four, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Fulham on penalties on Sunday, leaving the Europa League as the sole chance of silverware for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Off the field, the club’s accounts for 2023-24 showed a net loss of £113.2 million. In February, it was revealed United paid a compensation bill of £14.5 million for former manager Erik ten Hag and ex-sporting director Dan Ashworth following their respective departures.
United’s debt interest payments for the last six months were £18.8 million, and Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting and fund-raising measures since his INEOS group purchased a minority stake in the club have proved deeply unpopular.
🗣️A protest against Glazer and the clubs deliberate assault on fan culture.
This is a rallying call to the banners (Tollgate 3pm 9th March).
Bring the heat. Bring the noise. Bring the passion.
📍Tollgate
⏱️3pm
🚶♂️We march at 3:15pm (form behind the large banner)
🚏Start… pic.twitter.com/zc6SyOXEpN— The 1958 (@The__1958) March 3, 2025
And with a high-profile fixture against former rivals that have emphatically surpassed United in recent years next up, The 1958 is calling for fans to take action with a protest symbolic of what it sees as the death of the club.
“The club is slowly dying before our eyes, on and off the pitch and the blame lies squarely at the current ownership model,” The 1958’s Steve Crompton said in a press release.
“The club is facing financial armageddon. Debt is the road to ruin. Sir Matt Busby would be turning in his grave at the current plight of one of the world’s greatest football institutions, which is being brought to its knees and in many ways becoming a laughing stock.”
“The club is going backwards and it’s likely to get even worse. We urge fans to rise up, unite and join us at 3 p.m. on Sunday as we march to the ground and protest against the despised Glazers and the club’s deliberate assault on fan culture.”
