Mancs to try burn US flag

GoalsFrom50Out · Oct 8, 2004

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/sport...=50143&headline=stars---gripes-name_page.html

MILITANT Manchester United fans stepped up their protest against would-be buyer Malcolm Glazer by trying to set fire to the American flag on television last night.

The sight of 30 supporters, many wearing hoods, invading the pitch at a reserve game was sent out live on the club's MUTV channel and will shock the US billionaire.

The protesters, calling themselves the Manchester Education Committee, held up a banner reading "United, Not For Sale" while an attempt was made to set ablaze the Stars and Stripes.

In a statement, they warned "Operation Havana" was the start of a "civil war" aimed at making United "ungovernable" and preventing its sale to a single shareholder.

Many in the small crowd watching the game against Birmingham City at Altrincham's ground applauded and chanted support.

The MEC complained it was "extremely disturbed" to see the platform MUTV offered to a Malcolm Glazer stooge on Tuesday and decided action was necessary to redress what they claim is a propaganda imbalance.

"This operation should also serve as a warning to any party interested in taking over Manchester United: they will not be allowed to succeed unless they take into account the wishes of Manchester United supporters."

Accusing United and other clubs of sacrificing "everything at the altar of commercialism" they added that should fans be ignored "we intend to initiate a civil war effectively setting the football club, the supporters, against the company".

The club's commercial activities would also be targeted, as would sponsors and business partners.

The incident comes two days after club director Maurice Watkins had his car vandalised in retribution for the one million shares he sold in February, ending up as part of Glazer's 19.1 per cent stake in Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Louis Saha is ready to fight for his United place after returning for the reserves last night following a month on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Saha scored, but United lost 3-2 to Birmingham.

clucas91 · Oct 9, 2004

Top stuff.

Thewlis Dish · Oct 9, 2004

Preferred the red paint on the car, personally.

GoalsFrom50Out · Oct 9, 2004

Pretty strong message to Glazer to stay the hell away though.

moomba · Oct 9, 2004

Militant fans, civil war. What a bunch of w@nkers.

Throw some paint on a pensioners car, and walk onto the field in a reserves match and all of a sudden they think they are all hard men.

Makes me laugh.

Roonaldo! · Oct 9, 2004

Shinboners · Oct 9, 2004

Very stupid when we have Tim Howard and Jon Spector in our squad.

Thewlis Dish · Oct 9, 2004

Shinboners said:
Very stupid when we have Tim Howard and Jon Spector in our squad.

Haha, when I heard about the flag burning, it took me a full half an hour to realise "Hey, we have Howard, Spector and Cooper, and are trying to break into the US market..."

I'm slow.

GoalsFrom50Out · Oct 9, 2004

We understand. You live in Adelaide afterall.

Oh wait ...

Thewlis Dish · Oct 9, 2004

Spector was actually on the pitch when it happened.

Burning a country's flag is stupidity IMO, it denotes that the whole country is to blame, not just one individual.

Shinboners · Oct 9, 2004

Petrie Dish said:
Haha, when I heard about the flag burning, it took me a full half an hour to realise "Hey, we have Howard, Spector and Cooper, and are trying to break into the US market..."

I really don't see the point in trying to break into the US market. They have their own sports and American kids are going to wear the merchandise of their local clubs, not some club from England.

The US only matters in terms of finding talented players.

Thewlis Dish · Oct 9, 2004

Shinboners said:
I really don't see the point in trying to break into the US market. They have their own sports and American kids are going to wear the merchandise of their local clubs, not some club from England.

The US only matters in terms of finding talented players.

That's fair enough, but it's still something we're obviously trying to do, and attracting players could probably be done better than burning a national flag. That footage/images will be played all over America, you can bet that, considering the fact we've spent the bulk of the last two pre-seasons playing in America, and there are still a lot of fans there.

What happens if someone like Freddie Adu has a real sense of national pride (I know he's from Ghana, but still), and he sees United fans burning an American Flag? Football is a growing sport in the US, and if it catches on, you don't want to be offside over a stupid act.

Imagine if someone had burnt a Portuguese flag a couple of years ago - then Sporting tell us to bugger off in terms of a partnership. There goes Ronaldo.

Shinboners · Oct 9, 2004

Petrie Dish said:
That's fair enough, but it's still something we're obviously trying to do, and attracting players could probably be done better than burning a national flag. That footage/images will be played all over America, you can bet that, considering the fact we've spent the bulk of the last two pre-seasons playing in America, and there are still a lot of fans there.

I'm sceptical about the club's work in promoting the brand around the world. In the mid-90s, Asia was the great growth area and United had three pre-season tours in the world - IIRC, we've only been back there once in the last three years or so.

Anyway, Americans watching masked men burning a US flag? My cynicism says that they'll be saying "Where abouts in the Middle East is Manchester?".

Petrie_Dish said:
What happens if someone like Freddie Adu has a real sense of national pride (I know he's from Ghana, but still), and he sees United fans burning an American Flag? Football is a growing sport in the US, and if it catches on, you don't want to be offside over a stupid act.

It'd be an individual decision, but from my experiences with Americans, they are a very patriotic lot.....they won't be happy seeing their flag burned.

Thewlis Dish · Oct 9, 2004

Maybe I'm going a bit over the top, I just don't see the point of burning a country like America's flag because you don't know what the repercussions will be down the track. Burn a picture of Glazier instead or something.

Shinboners · Oct 9, 2004

Petrie Dish said:
I just don't see the point of burning a country like America's flag because you don't know what the repercussions will be down the track.

It's true because you put any potential US allies off side.

Petrie Dish said:
Burn a picture of Glazier instead or something.

Agree with you on that one.

Lord of the Skause · Oct 9, 2004

Yes yes, an effigy of him, and maybe some Tampa bay merchandise.

Bentleigh · Oct 9, 2004

Hope spector doesnt get cut.

Top player imo.

Shinboners · Oct 10, 2004

Lord of the Skause said:
Yes yes, an effigy of him, and maybe some Tampa bay merchandise.

Why burn Tampa Bay merchandise? Glazer may own that club, but he's also run it into the ground - they are a victim of Glazer's ownership.

At best, Tampa Bay fans are an ally in the fight against Glazer. At worst, they won't care.

Lord of the Skause · Oct 10, 2004

Yes they've been run into the ground, but its also symbolic of the US.

Rd 7 Reviews + Club boards »

Rd 7 Games + Your Club Board

EPL Matchdays 34, 35, & 36 ⚽ Tip Now

Mancs to try burn US flag

Norm Smith Medallist

Club Legend

Cancelled

Norm Smith Medallist

TheBrownDog

Norm Smith Medallist

Brownlow Medallist

Cancelled

Norm Smith Medallist

Cancelled

Brownlow Medallist

Cancelled

Brownlow Medallist

Cancelled

Brownlow Medallist

Rookie

Brownlow Medallist

Brownlow Medallist

Rookie

Similar threads