Harry Diamond
Gary Neville has condemned the actions of the Manchester United fans who attacked the home of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, but warned the unrest at the club is only ‘going to get worse’.
A video emerged on social media on Tuesday evening of a group of so-called supporters throwing red flares over the gate of Woodward’s Cheshire home, the clip captioned ‘Ed Woodward is gonna die’, with club security and police immediately alerted to investigate.
The incident is the latest cause of concern for the Manchester United hierarchy who are coming under increasing pressure following the club’s disappointing season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side currently six points adrift of the top four and having accumulated their worst points tally (34) at this stage of the season for 30 years.
Neville – who has frequently criticised Woodward – admitted that the fans had gone ‘over the top’, but has warned the ‘simmering’ unrest will only increase as fans continue to be ‘disgusted’ with the board and their running of the football club.
“People’s families shouldn’t be attacked through sport or through football. Ed Woodward doesn’t deserve that and neither do his family,” Neville told Sky Sports ahead of Wednesday’s Manchester Derby.
“There are two separate issues here. The fans are absolutely disgusted with how the football side of the club has been run over the last two or three years. There still isn’t a technical director or football director. How it’s taken so long I don’t know. The club should be moving that forwards. They still don’t look slick in the transfer market. The team are obviously struggling.
United fans throwing flares at Ed Woodward’s house.
Thoughts on this Reds?
Too far or deserved?#MUFC pic.twitter.com/ev5iro33yS— UtdXclusive🔴 (@UtdXclusive) January 28, 2020
“And essentially the fans are just not happy. It’s simmering and it will boil soon. The reality of it is the first issue is something that can’t be condoned but the second issue is something that’s going to get worse.
“The fans are starting to bring it into the stadium. The fans are taking it to social media. They’re taking it above the line and going to people’s houses which isn’t acceptable and should never happen.
“However there’s a massive fanbase of Manchester United fans who are frustrated and are not going to accept what is happening at the club. And the reality is they are not seeing any movement, they’re not seeing any action.
“The same people who are running the club from a football point of view are still running the football club.
“I said a few years ago Manchester United need the best in class football operators at that football club and they haven’t got them and they’re getting played all over Europe by better operators, by smarter people and that is just unacceptable.
“It’s not something that Manchester United fans should accept. But they’re displaying their displeasure in a way which is over the top and should never happen.”
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