Man Utd respond to Ed Woodward house attack and threaten thugs with lifetime ban

Manchester United have condemned the shocking scenes outside Ed Woodward's mansion on Tuesday which saw Red Devils thugs launch flares at his home.

how between 20 and 30 balaclava-clad United fans marched on Woodward's Cheshire mansion as anger at the way the club is being run turned militant ahead of Wednesday night's Carabao Cup semi-final clash at Manchester City.

A number of flares were thrown at the gated property in the quiet village he lives in – at least one of them ignited – and it is understood that graffiti was sprayed on the fence surrounding Woodward's home.

Woodward, 48, his wife, and their young twins were not at home when the thugs descended on the property, throwing lit flares into the grounds.

After news of the shocking incident emerged, United immediately released a statement and threatened the thugs with lifetime bans.

The statement read: “ Manchester United Football Club have tonight been made aware of the incident outside the home of one of our employees.

"We know that the football world will unite behind us as we work with Greater Manchester Police to identify the perpetrators of this unwarranted attack.

"Anybody found guilty of a criminal offence, or found to be trespassing on this property, will be banned for life by the club and may face prosecution. Fans expressing opinion is one thing, criminal damage and intent to endanger life is another.

"There is simply no excuse for this."

The group of United fans are known as 'The Men in Black' due to their preference to dark clothing.

The attack on Woodward's home is a worrying development amid the growing fan protests being aimed at club owners the Glazer family, who he acted as an adviser to when they pushed through a controversial leveraged buy-out of United almost 15 years ago.

United are more than £200million in debt – despite announcing record revenues in the years since Woodward took over from David Gill in the summer of 2013.

It has been estimated that the Glazers have taken more than £1.3billion out of Old Trafford in dividends and to service loans.

Sir Alex Ferguson was able to continue to deliver titles and trophies until he retired in 2013.

Sickening songs directed at Ed Woodward were heard during United's recent win over Tranmere (REUTERS)

But since then, United have finished in the top four just twice and have not been able to mount a bid for the Premier League despite having employed David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager.

United lost successive games to Liverpool and Chelsea last week and their chances of returning to the Champions League are in the balance.

It is not the first time United's more militant supporters have made house calls.

Rio Ferdinand was confronted outside his home in 2008 when his contract talks with United had stalled.

And Wayne Rooney endured a similar experience when his contract stand-off with the club looked to be pushing him towards a move to rivals City.

It has been estimated that owners the Glazers have taken more than £1.3billion out of Old Trafford in dividends and to service loans (AFP/Getty Images)

United fans were heard chanting about killing Woodward during the Red Devils' FA Cup victory over Tranmere at the weekend.

One sickening chant went: "Build a bonfire, build a bonfire, put the Glazers on the top, put Ed Woodward in the middle and burn the f***ing lot."

Another was: "Gonna die, gonna die, Ed Woodward’s gonna die. How we kill him, I don’t know. Chop him up from head to toe. All I know is Woodward’s gonna die."

United supporters have been frustrated with the club's slump since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.

The club have gone from winning the title in the legendary Scot's final campaign to currently sitting fifth in the table - 33 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney have both previously been confronted outside their homes by militant fans when their contract talks stalled (PA)

United have spent £850million in that time but only won the FA Cup, Europa League and League Cup.

As a result, the blame has been placed on Woodward - as he is the public face of transfers and oversees the club's operations- alongside the owners, the Glazer family.

A regular complaint is that United is run as a business to please shareholders instead of to build success on the pitch.

Sir Alex Ferguson retired after leading United to the Premier League title in 2013 - but the club have not won it since (AFP/Getty Images)

The Red Devils are yet to make any transfers in the January window, but appear set to complete a move for Bruno Fernandes before Friday's deadline, following a long pursuit.

On Tuesday evening, it was confirmed that a £68m fee had been agreed with Sporting Lisbon - with a medical expected on Wednesday.