Fan protests prevented United’s game from going ahead on Sunday
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they will investigate an incident after video footage emerged of some of their officers appearing to punch a Manchester United fan repeatedly.
United fans gathered in their thousands on Sunday both outside the Lowry Hotel, where the team stay before home matches, and Old Trafford, ahead of their match against Liverpool to protest against the Glazer family’s ownership of the club.
Fans stormed through the gates and onto the pitch at the stadium, which led to the match being postponed, with a new date for the fixture yet to be announced.
While is was mostly peaceful, there were clashes between fans and police, with one police officer suffering a “significant slash wound to his face, requiring emergency hospital treatment.”
On the day, Greater Manchester Media were live streaming from outside the Lowry, and caught footage of police officers arresting a man and appearing to beat him up.
The footage can be viewed below from 1:09:15 onwards.
A statement from Greater Manchester Police read: “We are aware of a video circulating online of officers making an arrest during a protest on Sunday 2 May near The Lowry Hotel.
“The video depicts officers arresting a 28-year-old male on suspicion of a theft from a motor vehicle and a public order offence. He currently remains in custody for questioning.
“GMP’s Professional Standards Branch has been made aware of the video and will be examining the footage and all available evidence to understand the full circumstances surrounding the arrest.”
These protests are likely to continue in the coming weeks, with fans feeling more empowered than ever to challenge the status quo in football.
Manchester United Supporters’ Trust have published a list of demands to the Glazer family, demanding meaningful engagement with the club’s fans and a shift towards majority fan ownership.
