A COP was slashed in the face with a bottle after Manchester Utd fans stormed the pitch at Old Trafford forcing their clash with Liverpool to be scrapped.
Thousands more gathered outside the stadium in protest at the club’s US owners – the Glazers – as cops confirmed two officers were left injured in violent clashes on Sunday afternoon.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed one cop was slashed across the face with a bottle needing hospital treatment.
One lad climbed on to the goal at the Stretford End while others had a kickabout and let off flares.
Dozens also targeted the Lowry Hotel where the team was staying.
Police at both protests used batons to quell angry supporters, who want the Glazer family to sell up.
A line of riot police at the stadium – backed by horses – pushed the crowds back from the area where the players were meant to enter the ground.
A police statement read: “Flares were let off and bottles thrown at officers.
“Protestors outside Old Trafford became especially aggressive and antagonistic towards police before a group of about 100 forced entry to the ground with some United staff having to lock themselves in rooms.
“Those in the stadium were evicted by officers but outside on the forecourt hostility grew with bottles and barriers being thrown at officers and horses.
“Two officers have been injured with one officer being attacked with a bottle and sustaining a significant slash wound to his face, requiring emergency hospital treatment.
“With the situation increasing in hostility, additional officers had to be deployed and officers had to be drawn in from neighbouring forces to assist Greater Manchester officers.
“Following discussion with The Premier League, Trafford Council and the clubs, a joint decision was made to postpone the match for safety reasons.”
Fuming Red Devils fans even blocked their squad from leaving the Lowry Hotel ahead of their clash against their bitter rivals.
The players and staff eventually left the hotel at 7.15pm, with a police escort.
A Man Utd statement read: “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.”
An estimated 10,000 fans gathered en masse outside the Theatre of Dreams in a protest against the club’s American owners, with frustrations coming to a head after their failed plot to join the European Super League.
The demonstration had been planned days in advance, with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pleading for it to be peaceful.
But tempers flared during the protests with supporters seen throwing punches at each other.
And footage later emerged online showing fans inside the ground where they stormed onto the pitch and lit off flares.
A flare was thrown towards the Sky Sports studio, where Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was watching on.
Sky Sports said during their live broadcast that pitch side cameras as well as balls, corner flags and other items have been taken.
Greater Manchester Police condemned the violence as they confirmed the injuries to officers.
Their statement went on: “Officers were aware of a protest planned to take place in Old Trafford today (Sunday 2 May) and were working closely alongside partners to ensure those that attended were kept safe whilst enabling their right to peaceful protest.
“Early this afternoon, groups of protestors began to gather at Old Trafford and separately at The Lowry Hotel, Salford where the United players were staying. By late afternoon around 200 protestors had gathered outside the Lowry and over 1,000 at Old Trafford.
“Officers continued to closely monitor the situation, engaging with those present but as the groups grew in size; it became clear that many of those present were not intending to exercise their right to peaceful protest.”
GMP Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said: “The behaviour displayed today by those at both Old Trafford and The Lowry Hotel was reckless and dangerous.
“We understand the passion many supporters have for their team and we fully respect the right for peaceful protest.
“Plans were in place to ensure this could happen safely, but it soon became clear that many present had no intention of doing so peacefully.
“The actions of those today required us to take officers from front line policing and call in support from neighbouring forces to prevent the disorder getting worse.
“At different points, bottles and barriers were thrown, officers assaulted and people scaled the stadium structure creating risk for themselves and officers
“We have launched an investigation and we will be working closely alongside partners to ensure we establish the full circumstances surrounding today’s events and prosecute those responsible.”
The majority of fans protested peacefully, angered by the Glazers who have cost the club in the region of £1.5BILLION in servicing the debt incurred by their 2005 takeover.
For United legend and Sky pundit Gary Neville the protest was simply an expression of a the fans frustration with the way United has been run-down by the Glazers who he says should now do the ‘honourable thing’ and sell up and get out.
Neville said: “There’s huge discontent. They’re basically saying enough is enough.”
“The Glazer family have been resilient and stubborn for many years. I think they’re struggling for many, many years to meet the financial demands this club needs and have done for some time.
“This stadium, if you go behind the scenes, is rusty and rotting. The training ground is probably not even in the top five in this country.
“They haven’t got to a Champions League semi-final for 10 years and haven’t won the league for eight. The land around the ground is undeveloped, dormant and derelict when every other club seems to be developing their facilities and their fan experiences.
“The Glazer family are struggling to meet the financial requirements and the fans are saying the time is up.
“They’re going to make a fortune if they sell this football club. If they were to put it up for sale now I think the time would be right and it’d be the honourable thing to do.”
Ex-United captain Roy Keane, in the stadium as a pundit, said: “The fans are protesting because they love the club.
“They see Man United as a football club, not a business or a brand.”
TV pundit Jermaine Jenas said: “Stand outside by all means, but there’s a section of Man United fans that have let themselves down.”
Fans had begun assembling from 1pm and it was around 2pm that two loud fireworks went off signalling for the fans to push past security guards and get inside the ground.
The fans spent only a short time on the pitch before going back outside around 2.20pm where there was a stand off with police who by now had arrived in numbers wielding batons while missiles flew back the other way and even metal barriers were thrown.
Police on horseback finally dispersed the protesters from the forecourt.
Meanwhile the players remain locked inside the Lowry hotel watching the protest outside from their room windows.
Initially around 150 fans laid siege to the hotel’s main entrance and surrounded United’s two team buses after bursting through a police cordon.
They were finally moved away from the hotel but were still blocking the exit road from it.
With the club already hugely security conscience an explosives search team later arrived to sweep the stadium, while parts of it will have to be deep cleaned as part of Covid protocoals with one fan understood to have made it into the changing rooms.
A Premier League statement read: “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.”
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s protest, Solskjaer said: “It’s important that the fans’ views are listened to and we communicate better.
“My job is to focus on the football side and that we have the best possible team.
“As I’ve said before I’ve been backed, I’ve had great support from the club and the owners and I’m sure I will get the backing again to go one step further.
“But I’m so happy all the clubs have agreed that this shouldn’t be the way of moving forward.
“Then again, when the protests are on, it’s important they go in a good fashion and that we keep it peaceful.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
