Glazers ruin Man United, and Brits want them kicked out of football

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'Land of free speech'? Fans scream conspiracy as analyst is CUT OFF by US TV during anti-Glazer rant on Man Utd protests (VIDEO)
https://www.rt.com/sport/522780-espn-jon-champion-cut-off-manchester-united/

Football commentator Jon Champion was abruptly taken off the air by producers at US network ESPN after launching into a fierce tirade against the influence of American owners in Premier League football.

Sunday's game between Manchester United and Liverpool was called off amid scenes of fan protests and clashed with police in and around Old Trafford, as irate Red Devils fans demanded that their be voices heard in opposition to the unpopular leadership of the Glazer family, the chief owners of the club for more than 15 years.

The protest was largely seen as a necessary one by the English football community (though reports of fans engaging in clashes with police have been rightfully condemned in all quarters) amid fears that US billionaires are pillaging the soul from football in pursuit of adding a few more zeroes to their sporting portfolios at the expense of the club and its fans.

This opinion was trumpeted by UK football commentator Jon Champion during an appearance on ESPN Sunday, as he savaged the influence of the Glazer family on Manchester United and bemoaned their attempts to transform the famous club from a community-based entity to a soulless "franchise" – although Champion was unable to finish his diatribe after being abruptly cut off.

https://twitter.com/ron16mrl/status/1388917597144379394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1388917597144379394%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fsport%2F522780-espn-jon-champion-cut-off-manchester-united%2F

In response to a comment from former United States international Taylor Twellman in which he said that most major teams in the country are seen as "franchises", Champion offered a furious rebuke.

"Don't mention that word, I hate that word," Champion shot back. "Because that has no place in our lexicon when we talk about European sports clubs.

"They're clubs with beating hearts, not franchises. You have Manchester United, one of the Super League clubs... owned by the Glazer family who are widely despised as absentee owners.

"They bought the club by loading debt onto it. They don't show any signs of care for it.

"And yet this is the thing which dominates the lives of so many of its followers, that's why..."   

It was at this point that the plug was pulled on the broadcast, with a few seconds of dead air before an announcer advised that they will return to Champion and Twellman in the studio later on the show.

Footage of the incident soon went viral and forced ESPN into damage control mode, saying that Champion was silenced due to a technical error and not because of the content of his rant.

Soon after, ESPN released the full clip which shows the conclusion of the discussion.

"So my question – little bit tongue-in-cheek, little bit serious – is when they buy Erling Haaland for £160 million this transfer window, are these fans on the field taking pictures, are they going to be that upset?

"Yes," Champion said. "They genuinely are, because this is above winning titles, signing players.

"This is the existence of their heartbeat, their club and that is what some of us in America don't always understand."

Champion's polemic was quickly endorsed on social media, with numerous fans thanking him for having the courage to hit out at the occasional incongruity which exists between American sports and its European counterpart.

One fan condemned the incident, sarcastically referring to the United States as the so-called "land of free speech".

Others described ESPN's handling of the segment as "disgraceful", while one more thanked Champion for "not letting the point get lost" before he was "silenced".

In 2005, the Glazers...acquired the famed British soccer team Manchester United.

They've supported Jewish community organizations in Tampa

Bryan Glazer donated $4 million to the Tampa Jewish Community Center to help construct a 100,000-square-foot sports and recreation facility.
https://forward.com/fast-forward/462984/6-things-you-should-know-about-the-glazer-family-the-jewish-owners-of-the/

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'Not a penny more': Man United fans target club's commercial sponsors as club owner Avram Glazer 'refuses to apologize' (VIDEO)
https://www.rt.com/sport/522942-manchester-united-fan-boycott-glazers-sponsors/

Fans of Manchester United have launched an online boycott of the club's commercial sponsors amid ongoing fury at the handling of the Premier League giants by the US-based Glazer family – and their owner has declined to apologize.

TeamViewer, the newest shirt sponsor for the Red Devils, have seen their online ratings plummet after irate United fans savaged the company on review websites after each of the club's commercial sponsors received a letter from the club's fanbase urging them to withdraw any financial backing from the club while the Glazers remain in control.

It is the latest measure being taken by supporters in opposition to the fiercely unpopular owners and comes after Sunday's chaotic scenes at Old Trafford and Manchester city center, which saw hundreds of fans invade the club's famous stadium and force the cancellation of the home game against Premier League champions Liverpool.

"As commercial partners of the Glazer family, you are legitimate targets of the global fanbase because the combined £279 million per annum you pay will not go towards investment in the squad to compete with the best clubs that United now trail," read the letter sent to the partners.

https://twitter.com/PaperUtd/status/1389627459612692480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1389627459612692480%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fsport%2F522942-manchester-united-fan-boycott-glazers-sponsors%2F

"It will not go towards refurbishing Old Trafford or training facilities, both now so outdated that they have become a symbol for Glazer disinterest. Your sponsorship money will be used for debt servicing and dividends.

"To that end, Manchester United fans will boycott your products, seek to tarnish your brands and support your competitors until you terminate your commercial partnership with the Glazer family.

"Fans say they have been ignored in their attempts to engage with the American owners of the club, who secured the club 16 years ago through borrowing. They have been mobilised since the club attempted to join the breakaway European Super League last month and say the attempt to impact on the club's sponsors in the only way for the Glazers to take notice.

"The group of anonymous fans have vowed to boycott the products of commercial partners, seek to tarnish your brands and support your competitors unless ties with United are cut.

"TeamView, a global technology company, signed a five-year deal worth £235 million to be United's principal shirt sponsor from next year. They saw their Trustpilot rating plummet after negative reviews.

"Until then, if you are complicit with the Glazers, you are complicit in the attack of Manchester United Football Club," the letter concluded.

Although Joel Glazer apologized to fans for United's part in the proposed Super League, Avram Glazer drove off without replying when a Sky News reporter approached him in Florida and offered him the opportunity to say sorry and address the future of the club.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer is expected to face questions from the media on Wednesday ahead of the team's Europa League semifinal second leg against Roma regarding the wave of fan fury. The Norwegian has remained somewhat tight-lipped in the wake of Sunday's scenes, with the club only releasing carefully-worded statements following the demonstrations.

In a statement, the club announced that they had no desire to see peaceful protestors punished for their actions but said they will co-operate with Greater Manchester Police to bring anyone to justice who engaged in violent behavior or trespassing.

One 28-year-old Manchester United fan has been charged by police for throwing fireworks, threatening behavior and wilful obstruction of a public highway.

Further charges are expected to take place in the coming days after police officials said that a number of their officers had suffered injuries in fracas' with officers. One suffered a broken eye socket, while another received a large gash to his face after being struck with a glass bottle.

The Glazer family are yet to blink in their staredown with the fans of the club – and it now seems that the tactic amongst supporters is to hit them where it hurts most: their pockets.