Sir Jim Ratcliffe was the target of a section of Manchester United fans’ ire against Wolves at Old Trafford on Sunday.
As the Red Devils stepped onto the pitch for one of their final home league games of a dreadful domestic season, a section of supporters held up banners towards their co-owner in the Director’s Box.
It comes amid plans from Man United to move around 500 supporters whose season tickets are close to the dugout.
These are fans who have held these tickets for years, and they don’t want to be moved.
Their tickets will then be taken by those in premium hospitality, which the club states reflects ‘the high value of this unique location’.
It’s a decision that has enraged the United faithful, who made a post-match demonstration against the club’s ownership following the 0-0 draw with rivals Manchester City earlier this month.
And now, fans have made their opinion heard before their match with Wolves as a plethora of banners and signs were held up.
As always, Ratcliffe was in attendance as Man United slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Wolves, who are now level on points with Man United.
As of yet, there has been no response from the British billionaire.
One read: “Pay for your own mistakes. Not with my seat. Shame on you.”
Another said: “Decades of loyalty. Sold out for 80 pieces of silver.”
A third had the message: “50 years, one family. Taken for profit not passion. The club was built by us.”
And this banner simply stated: “Money over loyalty.”
This sign then had the words: “Tourists over fans.”
United did offer an explanation as to why they have made the decision, while stating they will try and find a place for them elsewhere in the stadium.
The club said in a statement last month: “Some of the general admission tickets directly adjacent to the home and away dugouts will be converted to hospitality seats, reflecting the high value of this unique location.
“We appreciate the disruption this will cause those fans who currently sit there.
“And we will be contacting them individually to ensure a suitable alternative seat is found.
As well as those complaining of being moved, fans have also expressed their dissatisfaction over the mid-season decision to increase the price of matchday tickets to £66.
Justifying the decision, Ratcliffe has claimed that it is necessary in order to slash losses, which exceeded £113million last summer.
United’s cost-cutting measures have even seen lunch options at the club’s canteen cut to just soup and sandwiches.
The multiple Premier League champions have also slashed 450 jobs and chopped annual donations to a charity that supports former Red Devils.
So this is the latest in a string of unpopular decisions from Ratcliffe and co.
