Hundreds of angry fans protested on Thursday night against the takeover of Manchester United soccer club by United States tycoon Malcolm Glazer.
Chanting outside the soccer stadium in Manchester, in northern England, supporters carried banners declaring the club ”Not for Sale” and burned effigies of the US billionaire.
A spokesperson for Manchester police said: ”There have been some arrests for public order offences. The protest has been fairly peaceful but the group was warned under the Public Order Act to move on and clear the site.”
The Sun newspaper reported that fans threatened a series of banner-waving protests, a mass boycott of games and money-spinning merchandise and even held out the prospect of setting up a new club.
They believe that Glazer will have to squeeze more cash from them to pay for his massive takeover and feared the club would be so debt-ridden it would no longer be able to afford star players like Wayne Rooney, The Sun reported.
Sports minister Richard Caborn said: ”Who owns Manchester United is a commercial decision but of course anyone seeking to buy the club would be foolish not to take account of the views of the fans.
”I hope Mr Glazer sets up constructive discussions with the club, its supporters and employees, as well as the footballing authorities, as soon as possible,” Caborn said.
”It is important that the club continues to play its central role in English football in the years to come.”
Glazer on Thursday launched a formal cash takeover offer for Manchester United, the world’s richest football club, after acquiring shares from the club’s biggest single investors. – Sapa-AFP