Manchester United fans opposed to Malcolm Glazer’s takeover have promised to continue protesting a British telecom company after it refused to pull out of its sponsorship deal with the club.
Disgruntled fans picketed Vodafone’s annual general meeting in London on Tuesday, distributing leaflets urging shareholders to ”hang up” on the American businessman.
However, the protest and a suggested boycott of the company’s products failed to persuade Vodafone chairperson Ian MacLaurin and chief marketing officer Peter Bamford to review the agreement.
”We see no reason why our sponsorship of Manchester United will stop benefiting us,” Bamford said. ”The number of cancellations due to the takeover at Manchester United is very, very small and it has been a tiny loss.”
Oliver Houston, vice-chairperson of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, said protests will continue.
Fans have staged various demonstrations, including last month, when about 200 fans clashed with police at the club’s Old Trafford stadium.
Two supporters were arrested and Glazer’s sons — Joel, Avi and Bryan Glazer — had to be escorted away from the stadium in a police van. — Sapa-AP