Manchester United Supporters Urged To Wear Black Clothes As A Symbol Of Thekarat Club

JAKARTA - One of Manchester United's most significant support groups has urged supporters who will go to watch wearing black clothes on Sunday, March 9, 2025, against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

The campaign is a form of protest over the ownership of the Glazer family which has left Manchester United facing increased financial uncertainty and a historically bad Premier League season.

The 1958 fan group issued the statement on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, asking supporters to join the march before the match begins.

As is known, in September 2024, The Red Devils posted a net loss of 144 million US dollars in their accounts for 2023/2024.

While the latest figures shared in February 2025 show that they paid a compensation bill of 14.5 million pounds (1.2 million US dollars) to Erik ten Hag, his coaching team, and former sporting director Dan Ashworth after their respective dismissals this season.

These figures also show that Manchester United's debt interest payments in the last six months amounted to 18.8 million pounds.

Meanwhile, a number of cost cuts and fundraisers have been introduced since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group completed the purchase of a minority stake of 27.7 percent on February 20, 2024.

The policy includes the latest decision to make all tickets for 66 pounds regardless of age and two waves of termination of employment.

While financial problems continue to haunt him, Ruben Amorim who replaced Ten Hag in October 2024 did not bring any improvement. The last blow came in a penalty shootout defeat to Fulham in last weekend's FA Cup.

"This club is slowly dying in front of our eyes, on and off the pitch. Its error lies in the current ownership model," said Steve Crompton of The 1958 in the release.

"This club is facing financial collapse. Debt is a path to destruction. Sir Matt Busby will wake up from his grave seeing the bad state of one of the greatest football institutions in the world that is on his knees and in many ways into laughter."

"This club is experiencing setbacks and is likely to get even worse. We urge fans to rise up, unite, and join us on Sunday 3pm as we line up on the pitch and protest against the club's hated Glazer family and intentional attacks on fan culture," read the statement again.

Manchester United has been under the control of the Glazer family, which also has Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the NFL, since the leverage purchase in May 2005, which cost Manchester United more than 500 million pounds.

In fact, before the Glazer family bought Manchester United, they faced the hostility of the club's supporters who were angry with the prospect of a team that was previously debt-free and prosperous and was forced to bear large debts.

It will mark the second week in a row of fan protests at Old Trafford after Manchester United fans join the "Stop Loyalty Exploitation" campaign of the Football Supporters Association over ticket prices for Fulham matches.