MX23RW : Friday, May 7 00:07:04| >> :120:4103:4103:

FSA chief expecting more protests after Old Trafford scenes

FSA chief expecting more protests after Old Trafford scenes
© Reuters
A demonstration by Manchester United fans caused the postponement of their Premier League match at home to Liverpool on Sunday.

Football Supporters' Association chairman Malcolm Clarke expects further fan protests before the end of the season but believes real progress will be made through consultation over proper regulation of club ownership.

A demonstration by Manchester United fans caused the postponement of their Premier League match at home to Liverpool on Sunday, with a number of individuals breaking into the ground in the hours before the scheduled kick-off.

Clarke said the majority of law-abiding protesters were well within their rights to voice collective opposition to the club's owners the Glazer family and their involvement in the 'big six' clubs' aborted plans for a European Super League and did not rule out the likelihood of further demonstrations, not only at Old Trafford but at other clubs.

However, the FSA is concentrating on providing evidence to the investigation into the governance of football being carried out by former sports minister Tracey Crouch. which was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month.

"Obviously it demonstrates the strength of feeling of the Manchester United supporters over what has happened in the last couple of weeks and wider what many of them feel about their owners, the Glazer family," he told the PA news agency.

"The vast majority of people there yesterday were peacefully protesting, but as inevitably happens on these occasions the focus gets directed towards the small number who cross the line.

"I think we may see more protests. If fans want to make a protest at their last home games of the season I think that's absolutely fine.

"We expect everyone to keep within the law so they can make their feelings felt that way, but we will be working with supporters organisations at all the clubs – including the rebel six – to ensure the evidence we give to Tracey Crouch is robust, well thought out and can produce some real solutions."

Fans protested at Old Trafford on Sunday
Fans protested at Old Trafford on Sunday (Barrington Coombs/PA)

The breakaway Super League plan involving United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham collapsed under the weight of opposition from supporters and football in general.

Clarke, however, thanked the clubs involved for propelling the debate of governance and fan involvement to the top of the political agenda.

"I think the significant thing which has happened in the last couple of weeks is the Government has launched its fan-led review of the governance and regulation of football," he added.

"It was in their manifesto but we were worried they hadn't done anything about it.

"So in that sense we are very grateful to the rebel six as they have put this issue at the top of the Prime Minister's agenda, got the Government to launch the review and this is the mechanism we hope will achieve real change.

"I am delighted with what they tried to do because the voice of the fans stopped them doing it, but it plunged all the key issues right to the top of the political agenda, so my first reaction is 'Thanks very much guys, you've achieved more in two weeks than I've tried to do in two decades'."

ID:445880: cacheID:445880:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6019:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Paul Pogba celebrates scoring for Manchester United against Burnley in the Premier League on January 12, 2021
Read Next:
Solskjaer rules out cashing in on Pogba
>
Read more about Malcolm Clarke Football

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
La Liga
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
National League South
Belgian Pro League
Russian Premier League
Danish Superliga
Finnish Veikkausliiga
League of Ireland Premier
Belarusian Premier League
Segunda Division
Serie B
2.Bundesliga
Eerste Divisie
Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
Uruguayan Primera Division
Australian A-League
Premier League 2 - Div 1
Premier League 2 - Div 2
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City34255471244780
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd331910464352967
3Leicester CityLeicester34196961392263
4Chelsea341710753312261
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham341771055441158
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs341681060382256
7Liverpool33159955391654
8Everton33157114542352
9Arsenal34147134637949
10Aston Villa331461348381048
11Leeds UnitedLeeds34145155052-247
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34119143346-1342
13Crystal Palace33108153456-2238
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton34813133539-437
15Southampton33107164159-1837
16Burnley3499163147-1636
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3499163656-2036
18Fulham34512172545-2027
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom34511183165-3426
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3452271860-4217

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!