Manchester United supporters staged a fresh protest against the club's treatment of match-going fans during Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford, displaying a banner describing the situation as a “disgrace”.
A solitary banner carrying the message, “The Way You Treat Us is a Disgrace,” was displayed in the Stretford End, replacing the usual collection of flags and banners organised by supporters' group The Red Army.
The decision was taken in protest against what fan groups have described as the club's recent treatment of supporters.
The Red Army, popularly known as TRA, said its decision to remove its usual flag display was intended to send a clear message to Manchester United's owners, directors and decision-makers.
In a statement released before the derby, the group said the banner represented the concerns of genuine supporters, fan groups, supporters' clubs and other match-going fans who believe they have been negatively affected by the club's recent actions.
The protest came amid growing anger among sections of the Manchester United fanbase over the club's crackdown on ticket touting.
Supporters' group The 1958 also organised a demonstration before the Manchester derby, claiming that the club's efforts to tackle ticket touts had resulted in some innocent supporters being unfairly targeted.
TRA insisted that the concerns raised extended beyond a single supporters' group, describing the situation as an appeal for greater recognition of long-standing match-going fans.
The group also warned that football clubs risk damaging traditional fan culture if supporters are not given a meaningful role in decisions affecting them.
While reiterating its support for changes in the club's ownership, TRA said any protest aimed at bringing about change must have a clear and realistic direction.
The supporters' group, which is primarily responsible for creating the atmosphere in the Stretford End, said it would nevertheless continue to fully support Manchester United's players and manager.
Meanwhile, Manchester United announced on Friday that "685 suspicious accounts had been banned", following an investigation into breaches of the club's season-ticket rules.
The club said its investigation had uncovered and disrupted large-scale organised networks involved in ticket touting.
Manchester United also rejected claims that innocent supporters had been deliberately targeted, insisting that some allegations of unfair treatment circulated on social media were either inaccurate or failed to provide the full context.
The disagreement has highlighted growing tensions between the club and sections of its match-going supporters, with fan groups continuing to demand greater engagement and recognition from the Old Trafford hierarchy.