Who are the Glazer family who own Manchester United?
Hundreds of supporters, demanding the Glazers leave Utd, stormed Old Trafford on Sunday leading to the postponement of the game against Liverpool.
Joel Glazer is an American businessman with a current net worth of approximately $1 billion and a member of the Glazer family, which owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) and Manchester United (Premier League). As owners, they were directly behind Manchester United's decision to join the European Super League (ESL) last month, a move that caused fans to protest all over Manchester.
Joel Glazer's father, Malcolm Glazer, acquired Manchester United in 2005, starting a long, rocky relationship with the fans, due to the leveraged acquisition of the club, 'leveraged' meaning the Glazer's dumped the loans used to buy Man Utd (around $600 million) on the club itself. At their first visit to Old Trafford the Glazers ended up being driven away from the ground in a police van for their own safety.
The decision to join the Super League did not go down well with fans already angry at owners who according to a study by the Guardian have taken out over $1 billion in interest, costs, fees and dividends. Supporters breaking into the club's training ground on 22 April.
In a statement last month, Glazer said: "By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid." This did not placate fans.
Fans: “We decide when you play”
On Sunday morning prior to the clash between Liverpool at Old Trafford, hundreds of supporters stormed Old Trafford and various properties around the city demanding the Glazers abandon the team.
Manchester United ended up backing out of the ESL following the negative impact it had and they issued an apology to all the fans around the world. But it seems that the supporters have not accepted this apology and they made sure their voice was once again heard prior to the game against the ‘Reds’ in the Premier League.
The league decided to postpone the match between Liverpool and Manchester United due to the protests. The league announced that "the rearrangement of the fixture will be communicated in due course."
“Apology not accepted. We want Glazers out,” read several banners. “It’s a warning to the owners of the football club that ultimately they (the fans) are not going to accept what they have done in the last couple of weeks,” said former Man United legend Gary Neville to Sky Sports.