United fans flood Old Trafford with green-and-gold balloons in Glazer protest before Roma clash

Manchester United supporters staged a coordinated protest against the club’s ownership at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening, distributing 4,000 green and yellow balloons across the Stretford End moments before the Champions League anthem played ahead of kick-off against AS Roma. A banner reading ‘For the love not the likes’ accompanied the display.

The action was organised by a supporters’ group called the Stretford Enders. Green and gold — the colours of Newton Heath, the club that eventually became Manchester United — have long served as a symbol of anti-Glazer sentiment, first widely adopted during protests in 2010 and revived with renewed intensity in recent seasons.

The protest extended beyond the visual display. Chants targeting the Glazer family, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and director of football Jason Wilcox were audible even before kick-off, continuing a pattern of supporter unrest that has grown alongside the club’s slide to 17th place in the Premier League. Similar songs were directed at the ownership during United’s defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Further actions are reportedly planned.

Former United captain Gary Neville added his voice to the calls for change last week, delivering a pointed message on his podcast. “The Glazers have to sell. They have to sell now. The time has come,” Neville said. “They’ve subcontracted the football department out to Ineos. Ineos are trying to run the football department and have had three years of struggling and failing and now it looks like they’re struggling again.”

Neville also questioned the club’s financial direction: “The club is in debt, you’ve not spent a penny on the stadium, you’re trying to borrow £2bn for a stadium that you don’t know how you’re going to borrow.”

While frustration with the hierarchy has intensified, match-going supporters have been careful to separate their grievances from their attitude toward manager Michael Carrick, who retains backing from the fanbase as they direct their discontent squarely at the club’s ownership structure.