Manchester United's Premier League game against Liverpool this afternoon has been delayed.
United supporters taking part in a protest against the club's Glazer owners stormed the pitch at Old Trafford before kick off, while others protested outside the team's hotel, blocking the bus from leaving for the ground. Other officials, such as referee Michael Oliver, were also denied access to the ground upon arrival, meaning the initial 4.30pm kick off was delayed.
Reports also circulated that, after the initial group had been cleared, a second group of fans succeeding in gaining access to the stadium and tried to get onto the pitch again.
The Premier League announced the two teams at the usual time (3.30pm), an hour before the intended kick off. But the decision was then taken to delay kick off — with initially no revised time.
A new kick off time will be confirmed, once all the security measures have been taken to get the teams and officials safely into the ground.
Around 10,000 United fans in total turned up outside Old Trafford, as supporters took action to voice their opposition to the running of the club by the Glazer family. Many displayed the green and gold colours that have become synonymous with anti-Glazer sentiment at United, while smoke bombs and flares were let off, amid a cacophony of 'Glazers Out' chants — and similar.
Many also held up placards and banners advocating a '50+1' rule on club ownership and demanding the Glazers sold their majority stake in United.
Co-owner Joel Glazer was central to recent plans to establish a European Super League, which quickly was ditched after widespread backlash from supporters.
