The home of Manchester United’s executive vice chairman, Ed Woodward, was attacked by a group of men wielding flares, as tensions continue to rise between the board and supporters.
The Manchester United board has come under heavy fire from fans in recent weeks due to the mismanagement of the club since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. In recent weeks, games against Burnley and Tranmere have seen the club’s supporters vocally turn on Woodward and the Glazers.
Videos on social media showed a group of men tossing a flare over a large gate into Woodward’s Cheshire mansion while chanting that he was “going to die”, a refrain that has been heard during matchdays. Neither Woodward nor his family were home at the time.
Manchester United released the following statement regarding the incident:
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"Fans expressing opinion is one thing, criminal damage and intent to endanger life is another. There is simply no excuse for this.We know that the football world will unite behind us as we work with police to identify the perpetrators of this unwarranted attack. (Via: caughtoffside.com)"
United went on to state that anyone who was found guilty of a criminal offence or trespassing would be banned for life.
Protesting United fans suffer
This is a darker twist in the sordid tale of United’s mismanagement at the hands of the Glazers. The irony of the situation is that those who were at Woodward’s home are likely weakening the position of the protesting fans.
By resorting to bone-headed thuggery, these fans have made it easier for the board and owners to wave off these protests as an extremist wing in action, as opposed to the sentiments being shared by an overwhelming majority of the Manchester United fanbase.
In recent times, Woodward has hired his own public-relations manager in an effort to boost his standing with the fans, but this has led to even further outcry.
He will be hoping that the recent progress in the signing of Bruno Fernandes will quell some of the vitriol he is facing from the stands, but that remains to be seen.