While things couldn’t be going better in Tampa Bay for the Glazer family, they will be faced with a tough situation in Manchester.
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Around 2 weeks ago, the world of European football was rattled. Owners of 12 of the continent’s biggest football (soccer) clubs proposed a breakaway “European Super League”.
To fans, this was nothing short of an attack on their beloved game. Rumors of the breakaway league had been circling for years, but after it became official, the outrage was felt immediately.
It was seen as a money grab and disrespectful to the fans and traditions of the game. Fans made their voices heard on social media and protests at stadiums. Players, coaches, and pundits followed.
Just a couple days after the Super League plan was announced, it was killed. Teams began to pullout and soon the league was abandoned. A huge win for the sport, however it was not enough.
Supporters would not soon forget the betrayals of their owners. In the Premier league, there has been a recent trend of super wealthy, foreign (often American) owners purchasing the biggest teams.
In the eyes of the fans, these individuals are far disconnected with the culture of the sport. One club in particular, Manchester United, have long been subject to such criticism.
The Super League proposal was seen as the last straw and their fans, finally, may be winning the battle to force their owners out.
Manchester United Fans Storm Field, Delay Match Against Liverpool
Today, one of the biggest matches of the Premier League season was set to take place. However, fans took the opportunity to make their voices heard instead.
Thousands of United fans found their way into the team’s stadium, Old Trafford, and protested against the Glazers’ ownership with flares, chants, and signs. The intention was simple: force the Glazers to sell the club.
Unlike the NFL and other American leagues, fans have not been permitted to be in attendance for football matches. Therefore, the protest was all the more effective, and frankly amusing to third parties.
This is by no means the first time the fans have made this plea, but this time the demonstration really caught the headlines. The game had to be delayed and the uncertainty remains.
Moreover, the timing is extremely convenient. All 20 Premier League teams, along with much of England’s sports media, have decided to boycott social media for the weekend in response to the growing amount of racial abuse online.
This meant that news of the postponement was slow to reach fans, so the protestors are really making their efforts felt.
Who Is the Glazer Family?
The Glazer family is a prominent group in both the NFL and the Premier League. The family owns a majority in both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as Manchester United FC.
Malcom Glazer, the family’s patriarch, was a successful American businessman. The son of Lithuanian immigrants, Malcolm made his fortune in a variety of industries, including real estate.
In 1995, he paid a record fee to purchase the Bucs, and between 2003 and 2005, he slowly completed his takeover of Manchester United. At the time, the takeover was strongly opposed for the previously mentioned reasons, as well the financial position it left the club in.
When Malcolm died in 2014, his endeavors were left to his 6 children who now make up the considerable part of the Glazer family. One of his sons, Joel, played an important role in the breakaway league.
While things are going great with the Bucs, fresh off a Super Bowl win, the family’s future in England is now in question. Whether the Glazers sell the club or not, they will definitely face immense pressure in the next few days.
