Manchester United fans' demonstration during Tuesday night's Champions League comeback win against Roma suggests Sir Jim Ratcliffe's terms for selling his stake in the club are now being met. Around 3,000 green and gold balloons were handed out before the game in an effort to make a visible anti-Glazer and anti-Ratcliffe demonstration, and tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch when United were 2-0 down.
Protest timing and symbolism
The demonstration took place five seconds after the 20-minute mark of the game, a nod to 2005, when the Glazers controversially acquired a majority stake through a leveraged buyout. The sight of Matheus Cunha and Diogo Dalot sheepishly throwing back tennis balls so the game could continue was powerful. The atmosphere was poisonous and should have made Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox sweat.
Last year, Ratcliffe said: "Eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I'd have to say, look, enough's enough guys, let somebody else do this."
Ownership discontent
Supporters have come together to think up new ideas to draw attention to United's ownership. The Glazers have rightfully been targeted for years, but Ratcliffe has been just as bad over the last two years. Ratcliffe gained control of football operations at Old Trafford when he acquired a minority stake in February 2024, and he has limped from one bad decision to another, becoming a parody of his 'best in class' mantra.
United started well against Roma but looked to have thrown their chance of winning away by conceding two goals in the space of seven minutes. Inevitably, the camera panned to Berrada and Wilcox in the directors' box. Ratcliffe made a big deal of luring Berrada from Manchester City to become United's CEO, but he has presided over a failing organisation, along with Wilcox, who has been responsible for recruitment.
Continued protests and future
The discontent was always there under the Glazers, but Ineos have plunged United to new depths, with the team now having lost eight of their 14 games in all competitions this season. There are critics who say United only protest against their owners when the team are struggling. That is not true, as they have consistently protested through good times and bad, and it was noticeable that the anti-Glazers chant was aired when United won a penalty.
Even when there was a lifeline for United to get into the game, there was a rendition of "We want the Glazers out." The message has been loud and clear, and it was louder than ever during Roma's visit. Ratcliffe has happily got into bed with the Glazers, but he now must be considering his involvement with the club. He has been fixated on building a new stadium, a 100,000-seater to leave as a legacy in the city he was born.
However, as things stand, he will be remembered as the man who enabled the Glazers. If Ratcliffe was being sincere when he said he would walk away if he received the level of abuse the Glazers have suffered, the time to leave is now. He invested in the club with the hope of being loved by fans, but he is in charge of a club whose own fans feel compelled to protest.
United fans' protest against Roma is not the end of the matter. Fans have promised they will come up with new, innovative ideas to build momentum against the club's ownership because they believe that until there is change United will not be able to recapture their former glories. The remarkable thing is that Ratcliffe and the Glazers can watch a stirring United comeback and still not realise the institution that they have in their hands. It's beyond belief that they can watch such a special win and not want to invest more to create a bouncing Old Trafford every week.
"We want the Glazers out" United fans chanted again once the comeback was complete. The chant was aired again following the full-time whistle, while Berrada and Wilcox were shouted at by an angry fan as they left. This is not going to go away until there is meaningful change.
