JAKARTA - The UK Sports Minister and the Mayor of Manchester have condemned the violence during the anti-Glazer protests by Manchester United supporters. This action caused the English Premier League match between the Red Devils and Liverpool to be postponed.
United fans staged a protest to the American club owner, the Glazer family, storming the stadium that was closed to fans due to COVID-19 restrictions.
A flare was thrown at the broadcaster's podium as fans carried out a field invasion and protesters clashed with police outside the pitch.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that two officers were injured with one of them requiring hospital treatment after he was attacked with a bottle and sustained a cut to his face.
"The passion for football is running high, but there are ways to protest and have your voice heard without hurting or harming others," said Nigel Huddleston, Minister of Tourism and Sports quoted by Reuters on Monday.
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"We understand the frustration, but violence by a minority of supporters at Old Trafford yesterday is unacceptable," he said.
Fan protests against the Glazer family, which have been going on since they bought the club in 2005, have since resumed United's involvement in the effort to create the European Super League.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham expressed support for the protesters' cause but criticized the violence by a number of supporters.
"I fully understand the long-standing concerns of Manchester United supporters about ownership and financing of their club and the broader course of football," he said.
"It is important to make it clear that the majority of supporters are staging their protests peacefully... however, there is no excuse for minority actions that injure police officers and endanger the safety of others," he added.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he tolerated the protests by football fans, but condemned the break-into at Old Trafford.
"(We) cannot, cannot, excuse the action we have seen about storming the (Old Trafford) pitch," Cleverly told Sky News.
"However, we need to understand the frustration that fans experience not only with Manchester United but with a number of clubs in this sport."
Meanwhile, the cancellation of the Man United vs Liverpool match leaves homework for the Premier League.
The problem arises because the two teams have a busy schedule until the end of the season which is scheduled to fall on May 23.
The league operator must find the right time to reschedule the match.
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