In a scene more reminiscent of a Hollywood thriller than a football matchday, two Salford City supporters brought the League Two club to a standstill after scaling a massive 50-metre construction crane overlooking the Peninsula Stadium.
The daring protest, which unfolded hours before Salford's clash against Mansfield Town, saw emergency services including police, fire crews, and ambulance teams rush to the scene as the pair perched precariously high above the ground.
Dramatic Standoff Halts Match Preparations
Witnesses described a tense atmosphere as specialist negotiators were brought in to communicate with the protesters, who remained balanced on the crane's narrow platform for approximately three hours. The incident caused significant disruption to matchday preparations, with safety concerns mounting as kickoff time approached.
One shocked spectator told reporters: "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. They were so high up it made you dizzy just looking at them. Everyone was worried they might fall at any moment."
Ticket Price Grievances Spark Extreme Action
The protest appears to have been motivated by growing fan discontent over ticket pricing at the club, which is co-owned by Manchester United's famous 'Class of 92' including Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Ryan Giggs.
Sources close to the situation suggest the crane climbers were making a statement about the increasing commercialisation of the club and rising costs for loyal supporters.
Emergency Response Praised
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they were called to the scene at approximately 1:30 PM, with fire and rescue services deploying their aerial platform to monitor the situation. Paramedics remained on standby throughout the ordeal.
A police spokesperson stated: "We can confirm we were called to reports of concern for the welfare of two people on a crane. Officers attended and the two people came down safely. They have been arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance."
Thankfully, both protesters were brought down safely and taken into police custody, while the match against Mansfield Town proceeded following a comprehensive safety check of the area.
The incident has sparked widespread debate among football fans about the lengths supporters will go to make their voices heard about escalating costs in the modern game.
